Clarification on whether Jersey gambling legislation prevents a person in the Island claiming a prize in the UK lottery if they win

4.8   Deputy K.C. Lewis of St. Saviour the Minister for Economic Development regarding the U.K. Lottery:

Further to conflicting information in the media regarding the U.K. Lottery, will the Minister clarify whether Jersey gambling legislation prevents a person in the Island from claiming a prize in the U.K. Lottery if they win?

Senator A.J.H. MacLean (The Minister for Economic Development):

I would like to ask my other Assistant Minister, the Connétable of St. Clement , to answer this question as he has responsibility for gambling.

Connétable L. Norman of St. Clement (Assistant Minister for Economic

Development - rapporteur):

I can confirm that there is nothing in Jersey legislation which prevents a Jersey

resident who has the good fortune to have a winning National Lottery Lotto ticket from claiming the relevant prize in the United Kingdom.

[15:45]

1. Deputy K.C. Lewis :

Only last week we passed the new intellectual property legislation; it is certainly a step in the right direction. As the Minister may know, I and many others have long since tried to start a commercial film production industry in Jersey. As many of the films in the U.K. are part-sponsored by the U.K. Lottery, if that applied to Jersey, this would go a long way in starting film production in Jersey. Does the Assistant Minister not agree?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

I agree that was a most fascinating question. [Laughter] The Bailiff :

Certainly, I was wondering when we were going to get back to the Lottery, but the Deputy did. Are there any other questions that give rise?

2. Deputy K.C. Lewis :

As this would also support the Jersey Heritage and the National Trust, will the Assistant Minister be actively pursuing the U.K. to change the legislation and does this also include the euro lotteries?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

I am not quite sure what legislation the Member wishes The Bailiff :

He is asking whether we can join in the U.K. Lottery. The Connétable of St. Clement :

I have been asked this question many, many times and Presidents of the Gambling Control Committee and the Ministers for Economic Development have been asked this question, it has been going on for at least a decade. For the National Lottery to be operating in Jersey would require a change in United Kingdom primary legislation. The current government and previous governments appear to have no particular appetite for doing that for whatever reason, but even if they did change their primary

legislation, they would also need to have a permit from the Department for Economic Development to operate the National Lottery in Jersey. Certainly as the Assistant Minister responsible, if that scenario came to pass, I would be very reluctant to allow the National Lottery into Jersey, as much as I would personally like it, unless it could be proven that significantly improved returns could be made to charitable and cultural purposes within the Island.

3. Deputy A.T. Dupré of St. Clement :

I know I have mentioned this before but I am very keen for us to start having the summer lottery again - a large, bumper one - and hopefully the funds could go to culture. Is that possible?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

Certainly; I think we have proven once again that the Christmas Lottery has been a phenomenal success. Last year we sold out of tickets a day or 2 before the main draw and had a first prize of £651,000.  We printed 15 per cent more tickets this year, we are going to run out at the same time, and have a first prize which is going to be well over £700,000, so there is an appetite for these sorts of big money draws. On the other hand, of course, we have got the scratch cards which are running throughout the year, where sales in both Jersey and Guernsey are declining. We have got to revitalise that.  Now, whether it is simply by copying the format of the Christmas draw and having just 2 draws a year, bearing in mind that we will then be competing with other charities who have their other, large draws I think of the Hospice one, which I think happens in September; we have got to be careful not to conflict and compete with that. But I think there are other ways that we can revitalise the Channel Islands Lottery to improve the returns for the charities and if we can improve returns, maintain the return to the charities at the same sort of level, then I think we can look at putting money into culture as well.

4. Deputy J.B. Fox:

Can I just clarify from the original question that is asked; if I buy a lottery ticket in the U.K. and I win a prize, and I go back to the U.K., I can claim the prize, correct?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

That is my understanding; I have done it myself. [Members: Oh!]  £10, Sir.

[Laughter]

5. Deputy T.M. Pitman:

Does the Assistant Minister agree that as his colleagues appear to have no real idea of how to fill the black hole, we should change the law so we could perhaps invest some money in the euro millions and possibly wipe out the deficit in one fell swoop?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

That does not sound like very wise or prudent use of taxpayers' money.

6. Deputy K.C. Lewis :

I thank the Assistant Minister for his comprehensive reply and wonder if he would answer the question whether the euro millions lottery legislation also applies?

The Connétable of St. Clement :

No, I cannot do that. I believe that comes under French or some other European country's legislation of which I have very little, in fact, no expertise whatsoever.

The Bailiff :

We come next to the question which Deputy Le Hérissier will ask of the Minister for Health and Social Services.