Physical Draw Equipment

Request

I am making a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for records held by the Gambling Commission, including records inherited from its predecessor bodies the Office of the National Lottery (Oflot) and the National Lottery Commission, relating to the physical draw equipment used for the National Lottery main game (Lotto) between November 1994 and December 2001. Specifically:

1 Ball set examination and certification records. Reports, certificates or summary results of examinations of Lotto ball sets carried out by the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (or any successor or equivalent body) during 1994-2001, including recorded ball weights, diameters and any tolerance or rejection findings, and the dates of examination.

2 Ball set inventory and service history. Any record identifying the ball sets in service for the main Lotto game in that period by their operational number (1 to 8, and any later additions), including dates of first use, dates of withdrawal from service, and dates on which any set was replaced, re-manufactured, repainted, re-marked or partially substituted.

3 Ball set 1 specifically. Any record referring to the Lotto ball set designated "set 1" in that period, including examination results, correspondence, incident reports or decisions concerning its continued use.

4 Manufacturing and specification records. Specifications or supplier records for the Lotto balls used in that period (understood to have been solid latex rubber of approximately 80 g), including any change of supplier, material or specification, and any acceptance testing carried out on delivery of a new or replacement set.

5 Randomness analyses commissioned before 2005. Any statistical analysis of draw outcomes commissioned or received by Oflot or the National Lottery Commission before 2005, including analyses by BSI Test or any other testing body, and any analysis broken down by ball set or draw machine.

Response

Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

In your email you have requested the following information held by the Gambling Commission, including records inherited from its predecessor bodies the Office of the National Lottery (Oflot) and the National Lottery Commission, relating to the physical draw equipment used for the National Lottery main game (Lotto) between November 1994 and December 2001. Specifically:

1 Ball set examination and certification records. Reports, certificates or summary results of examinations of Lotto ball sets carried out by the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (or any successor or equivalent body) during 1994-2001, including recorded ball weights, diameters and any tolerance or rejection findings, and the dates of examination.

2 Ball set inventory and service history. Any record identifying the ball sets in service for the main Lotto game in that period by their operational number (1 to 8, and any later additions), including dates of first use, dates of withdrawal from service, and dates on which any set was replaced, re-manufactured, repainted, re-marked or partially substituted.

3 Ball set 1 specifically. Any record referring to the Lotto ball set designated "set 1" in that period, including examination results, correspondence, incident reports or decisions concerning its continued use.

4 Manufacturing and specification records. Specifications or supplier records for the Lotto balls used in that period (understood to have been solid latex rubber of approximately 80 g), including any change of supplier, material or specification, and any acceptance testing carried out on delivery of a new or replacement set.

5 Randomness analyses commissioned before 2005. Any statistical analysis of draw outcomes commissioned or received by Oflot or the National Lottery Commission before 2005, including analyses by BSI Test or any other testing body, and any analysis broken down by ball set or draw machine.

The Gambling Commission can confirm that no information is held falling within the scope of your request.

Review of the decision

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email. 

Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.

If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission. 

It should be noted that if you wish to raise a complaint with the ICO about the Commission’s handling of your request for information, then you are required to do so within six weeks of receiving your final response or last substantive contact with us.

The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in a new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Information Management Team
Gambling Commission