**National Lottery Halts Ticket Sales and Payouts During Major 36-Hour System Upgrade**
The National Lottery is preparing to suspend all ticket sales and payouts for approximately 36 hours this weekend, as it embarks on the most significant technology upgrade since its inception over three decades ago. The temporary pause is set to affect players across the United Kingdom, disrupting both physical and online access to the popular lottery games.
Beginning at 11pm on Saturday—following the conclusion of the evening’s Lotto and Thunderball draws—customers will not be able to purchase draw tickets or claim prizes in shops or via digital channels, according to a statement released by operator Allwyn. The downtime is scheduled to continue until “late Monday morning,” leaving a gap of over a day before normal operations resume. Both the National Lottery’s official website and mobile app will also be inaccessible during this period.
Allwyn is encouraging participants to buy any needed tickets, review the most recent results and submit prize claims before the suspension begins. The company stressed that nobody will be able to log in online, purchase draw entries, or collect winnings—whether in store or on the internet—until after the upgrade is completed. Those who wish to check winning numbers can do so through the Lottery’s YouTube channel until the system shut-down takes effect.
While the system overhaul is underway, Allwyn will migrate the National Lottery’s current gaming and retail networks onto modernised platforms. The firm has noted that a minority of in-store payment terminals might experience a delayed restart, should any unforeseen issues arise during the software upgrade. Nevertheless, it will still be possible for customers to purchase instant-win Scratchcards throughout the upgrade window.
This extensive process marks a pivotal moment for the lottery, which has seen little change to its underlying technology since 2009—a time, Allwyn points out, that predates modern icons like iPads and Instagram. The upgrade is part of the operator’s broader ambition to overhaul the lottery, bringing in more advanced technology and increasing the level of engagement for players going forward.
Andria Vidler, the chief executive of Allwyn, described the update as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver The National Lottery that the UK deserves.” Acknowledging the short-term inconvenience for both players and retail partners, Vidler asserted that the changes will create a more innovative experience and are intended to double the amount contributed to good causes every week—from £30 million to £60 million—by the end of Allwyn’s ten-year licence period.
However, the path to this upgrade has not been without its difficulties. Since taking over the National Lottery licence from Camelot in February last year, Allwyn has faced several setbacks, including legal challenges from International Games Technology (IGT), the previous technology supplier. Although the legal dispute concluded without a prolonged court battle, the argument over the transition delayed Allwyn’s plans to launch new draw-based games and prevented the rollout of the upgrade sooner.
Consequently, Allwyn admits that the delay in updating the platform has hindered its initial target for increasing contributions to good causes. Launches of new games, originally expected in 2024, were postponed as negotiations and technological transitions dragged on. Despite these issues, the company maintains its commitment to the ambitious target of doubling its contributions throughout the next decade.
For regular lottery players, this means that from late Saturday night until mid-morning on Monday, access to many services will be restricted. Allwyn has taken pains to inform the public in advance, encouraging prudent planning to avoid disappointment and highlighting alternative ways to keep up to date with draws and results during the downtime.
As the National Lottery prepares for this vital transformation, the coming weekend marks a brief—but notable—pause in one of the country’s longest-standing games of chance, with organisers and players alike hoping the upgrade will usher in a new era for the beloved institution.