Allwyn UK has achieved a significant milestone with the completion of the largest technology conversion in global lottery history, transitioning its National Lottery operations to Scientific Games’ Momentum ecosystem. This monumental upgrade, which involved the integration of over 30 new systems and the replacement of the existing legacy platform, is a critical step in modernizing the UK’s National Lottery and improving its operations across 43,500 retail locations nationwide.

Momentum Ecosystem: Powering the Future of the National Lottery

At the core of this transformation lies the Momentum ecosystem, a central lottery gaming system provided by Scientific Games. This system powers not only the retail point-of-sale (POS) terminals but also a suite of enterprise applications, including Salesforce, claims, and licensing tools. These advancements will streamline National Lottery operations, enhance efficiency, and improve the overall player and retailer experience.

This transition from the legacy 2009 system to the new software was an unprecedented technical feat, requiring the migration of vast amounts of data, including retailer records and millions of transactions. Despite the scale and complexity of the project, the conversion was completed ahead of schedule, with retailers resuming ticket sales two hours earlier than planned.

The conversion involved a total shutdown of the National Lottery’s systems between August 2-4, 2024, while Allwyn and Scientific Games worked behind the scenes to implement the changes. With meticulous planning, including ten weeks of technical rehearsals, the upgrade went off without a hitch. By the morning of August 4, the vast majority of the 43,500 retail terminals were up and running on the new system, and the National Lottery website and mobile app followed shortly afterward.

In addition to the technology overhaul, Allwyn introduced the state-of-the-art WAVE terminals at approximately 8,000 National Lottery retailers. These new terminals provide enhanced functionality and faster transaction processing, contributing to a better experience for both retailers and customers.

Support and Communication with Retailers

Given the scale of the upgrade, Allwyn UK provided extensive support to its retail partners. Over 39,000 phone calls, emails, and in-person visits were made to retailers, ensuring they were prepared for the system switch. The company also dispatched comprehensive upgrade support packs, including customer-facing materials, to keep players informed about the changes.

Customer service efforts were significantly ramped up, with triple the usual number of agents on call to support both players and retailers during the transition. Additionally, Allwyn provided enhanced training, with staff accumulating over 6,500 hours of training on the new system to ensure smooth operations.

Allwyn’s CEO, Andria Vidler, expressed her excitement about the transformation in Scientific Games’ press release, emphasizing the importance of these upgrades in fulfilling the company’s vision for a modernized National Lottery. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver the National Lottery that the UK deserves,” Vidler stated. “These unprecedented changes are bringing us closer to our goal of restoring the magic of The National Lottery and significantly increasing its positive impact on lives across the UK.”

Looking ahead, Vidler also highlighted the company’s commitment to delivering a better player experience, with plans to introduce new and exciting games and increase weekly returns to good causes from £30 million to £60 million by the end of the 10-year license.

While the massive upgrade to the National Lottery’s retail infrastructure is complete, further improvements are planned. Allwyn is focusing on upgrading the digital channels of the lottery, with additional enhancements set to be rolled out in the near future. These digital upgrades will complement the new in-store technology and help drive further growth for the National Lottery.

Patrick McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games, praised the smooth execution of the conversion, noting that the successful transition of more than 43,000 terminals is a remarkable achievement. “This is the largest and most complex lottery system conversion in the industry’s history, and to see it go smoothly ahead of schedule is a testament to the hard work of both teams,” McHugh said.

With the Momentum ecosystem now fully integrated into the National Lottery’s operations, Allwyn and Scientific Games are poised to continue their collaboration to further enhance the Lottery’s offerings and ensure its long-term success.