National
Lottery sellers in Spain worried about privatisation
By h.b. - Nov 21, 2009 - 12:27 PM
email this article
EFE archive
Congress last month approved an opening up of the state lotteries in Spain
Lottery sellers in Spain are protesting at what they consider is a back-door privatisation of their business. As the world famous Gordo Christmas Lottery approaches, queues can be seen at most of the lottery administration offices where tickets can be purchased, but that could all change.
The Government is reported to be considering opening up part of the National Lottery to the private sector, which would mean that ticket selling machines could be seen in commercial and other centres.
Earlier this month Congress approved two motion s which will allow any company to be allowed to sell Spanish State lottery tickets, and those who work in the current lottery administration offices say the Government is planning the liberalisation of state lotteries without even consulting them.
The 250 year old National Lottery in Spain is run by the Director General of Lotteries and State Bets, LAE. General Director, Gonzalo Fernández, has denied that privatisation is taking place, noting that the products and the network are not being touched. He said all that was being done was opening the door to the use of new technologies in ticket sales.
Even now by using the Internet people can choose where to buy their ‘Gordo’ lottery ticket. As the draw approaches on December 22, the statisticians tell us that Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante are the luckiest provinces and tickets ending in a 3,7 or 9 are the most popular.