Resolution Statement – 02700-25 Allwyn UK v The Sunday Telegraph

Summary of Complaint 

1. Allwyn UK complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that The Sunday Telegraph breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an article headlined “National Lottery urged to carry warnings on gambling addiction”, published on 29 June 2025.

2. The article reported on a recent report by GambleAware concerning the National Lottery. The article opened by reporting: “The National Lottery should carry health warnings amid growing evidence that it is a gateway to problem gambling and addiction, ministers have been told”. It went on to state: “Children are being increasingly lured into playing the lottery through marketing gimmicks including chocolate-scented scratch-and-sniff cards, Christmas scratchcards that double as gift tags, and even musical scratchcards, according to a major report published on Sunday.” The article also cited: “A survey of 18,000 adults found 74 per cent believed the National Lottery should point people to support for gambling harm on its products.”

3. The article also appeared online in substantially the same format under the headline “Add health warning to ‘addictive’ National Lottery, says charity”.

4. The complainant said that the article was inaccurate and misleading in breach of Clause 1. Firstly, the complainant was concerned that the article reported the National Lottery should “add” and “carry” health warnings. It said this was inaccurate because responsible play signposting was already in place – it provided examples of signposting included on its products. Secondly, although the National Lottery had a musical scratchcard marketing advertising campaign, the complainant said it never sold any physical “musical scratchcards”, which it believed the article implied.

5. The complainant also considered there was no evidence to substantiate claims that the National Lottery was “a gateway to problem gambling” or that “children are being increasingly lured into playing the lottery through marketing gimmicks”. The complainant disagreed with the inclusion of the survey results in the article – it said where there was already signposting on its products, this was a moot point.

6. Finally, the complainant said the Code had been breached as it was not contacted prior to the article’s publication to give a right to reply.

7. The publication did not accept the complainant’s position. It said the article made clear its reporting of health warnings was based on GambleAware’s policy paper, which stated: “the National Lottery could have a substantial positive impact on preventing and reducing gambling harms through better embedding of safer gambling messaging in its advertising and products.” The publication was also content with the article’s reference to “musical scratchcards” was not misleading. It noted the article introduced it as a “marketing gimmick”, and that the complainant accepted that this was a marketing campaign. The publication did not consider that an ordinary reader would have understood the term to refer to a physical product.

8. The publication said statements such as the National Lottery was “a gateway to problem gambling” or that “children are being increasingly lured into playing the lottery through marketing gimmicks” were supported by the policy paper’s findings – that there was “high level of exposure to lottery marketing amongst children and young people”, and the National Lottery’s recent marketing could appeal to children. In relation to the inclusion of the survey, the publication said it was an editorial decision as to what information should be included in the articles. It did not consider including the survey would render the article inaccurate or misleading.

9. The publication said IPSO did not obligate journalists to approach the subjects of the articles for comment before publishing. It also noted that when it received a statement from the complainant this was added to the article promptly.

Relevant Clause Provisions

Clause 1 (Accuracy)

i) The press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.

ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and — where appropriate — an apology published. In cases involving IPSO, due prominence should be as required by the regulator. 

iii) A fair opportunity to reply to significant inaccuracies should be given, when reasonably called for.

iv) The press, while free to editorialise and campaign, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.

Mediated Outcome

10. The complaint was not resolved through direct correspondence between the parties. IPSO therefore began an investigation into the matter.

11. During IPSO’s investigation the publication offered to amend the online headline of the article to read: “Add more health warnings to ‘addictive’ National Lottery, says charity”. It also amended the body of the article to read:

The National Lottery should carry more health warnings on its advertising as well as its products amid growing evidence that it is a gateway to problem gambling and addiction, ministers have been told.

Children are being increasingly lured into playing the lottery through marketing gimmicks including chocolate-scented scratch-and-sniff cards, Christmas scratchcards that double as gift tags, and even adverts depicting games of musical scratchcards

…

GambleAware said the proportion of addicts playing the lottery was a key reason for it to carry more health warnings and point people to gambling support services.

12. It also offered to print the following correction in both its print and online corrections and clarifications column:

An article "National Lottery urged to carry warnings on gambling addiction" (Jun, 29) suggested the National Lottery sold “musical scratchcards”. In fact, a National Lottery advert featured a game of musical scratchcards which were not available for sale. The article also reported that GambleAware recommended health warnings be added to National Lottery products. This was not intended to imply that there is not currently any signposting to support services on National Lottery products. Any such implication would be incorrect.

And as a footnote to the online article:

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article suggested the National Lottery sold “musical scratchcards”. In fact, a National Lottery advert featured a game of musical scratchcards which were not available for sale. The article also reported that GambleAware recommended health warnings be added to National Lottery products. This was not intended to imply that there is not currently any signposting to support services on National Lottery products. Any such implication would be incorrect.

13. The complainant said that this would resolve the matter to its satisfaction.

14. As the complaint was successfully mediated, the Complaints Committee did not make a determination as to whether there had been any breach of the Code.

Date complaint received: 02/07/2025

Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 13/08/2025