The boss of incoming National Lottery owner Allwyn has said he is looking to reinvigorate the game as sales in Britain flag amid the cost-of-living crisis and ahead of the licence switchover next year.

Robert Chvatal, chief executive of the Czech company, said the UK had underperformed the rest of the group in the first six months of 2023, with consumer spending under pressure.

In the UK, the Camelot business saw total revenues fall 3% on a comparable and constant currency basis in the second quarter, although this was also down to “exceptional” EuroMillions rollovers a year earlier.

UK revenues grew 1% on a reported basis to 980.3 million euros (£838.8 million) in the three months to the end of June.

Mr Chvatal told the PA news agency the UK was the slowest growing division of the group, which also runs lotteries in Austria, Italy and Greece.

He said: “It’s a cost-of-living crisis, it’s also an expectation of what’s going to happen after licence four and the transition. “That’s something we have to work on longer term.” Mr Chvatal added that the UK business was “in a bit of a limbo now as we’re between licences”.

“For 30 years, Camelot did it their way… this is a new brush opportunity to have a fresh look at how we can do it for the next 10 years. “By looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes, things could benefit.” Allwyn is preparing to take over the running of the next National Lottery licence from February next year after winning the contract from Camelot last year.