National Lottery bans fuming pensioner after he spent £400 a week on tickets

A man in his 70s has been left fuming after his £400-a-week habit of buying National Lottery tickets has been put to an end, due to him spending too much money on the draw.

The OAP – who does not wish to be named – is raging after his beloved game identified him as “playing more than the average player”, whacking a three-month ban on his online account.

The man, from Hull in east Yorkshire, explained how he limits himself to spending £400 a week online on both the digital scratch card and the Saturday draw.

He says he’s done this since the lottery was launched and is fuming at the company’s response and their refusal to uplift his ban.

A former civil servant, the 75-year-old says he did not break any rules, as the National Lottery site has a £500 a week spending limit, which he did not exceed.

He told Hull Live : “They keep saying it’s part of their duty of care, but I just don’t understand how they can do this.

“I’m controlling the amounts of money I’m spending, I’ve reduced it from £500, but they’ve blocked my account so I can’t play the lottery online.

“It’s my money, I should be allowed to do what I want to do with it. I do not accept this.”

The man, whose biggest win is £500, said he can’t easily get to the shops because he is not fully mobile, so playing online was his only outlet.

He added: “I feel I am being discriminated against. If I was more mobile I’d go to the corner shop and buy any amount of tickets without the shopkeeper restricting me under a duty of care banner.

“I accept the limits and work within them but I do not accept being prevented from playing online. So I’m not too happy with them.

“If I was totally housebound and relied on using the internet this would discriminatory. Change the rules and remove the block.”

Asked if he is addicted to gambling, he said; “No. I just enjoy playing the scratch cards, as long as I’ve got money to spend I want to spend it.

“If I can control the amount I’m spending and reduce the amounts from the maximum, I’m not addicted am I?”

In an e-mail sent to the man from the National Lottery, seen by Hull Live, a member of the customer care team has explained why the ban cannot be lifted.

The email says: “The National Lottery’s guiding principle has always been that we want lots of people to play a little, rather than a few playing a lot.

“While I recognise that you may not feel that you are spending too much, our behavioural analytics model that monitors all National Lottery accounts has identified that you appear to be playing a lot more than the average player.

“In these emails, we recommended reducing your spend and play limits or considering an exclusion for your account. In line with our commitment to healthy play and protecting National Lottery players, we advised that if our concerns remained, your account may be suspended.

“As these concerns have remained, we have applied / will be applying a three-month suspension to your online National Lottery Account. This suspension cannot be reduced or removed during the 90-day time period.”

The email goes on recommend that after the ban is lifted, he should consider a longer or permanent self-exclusion.

It says: “At the end of the 90 day period, the suspension will be lifted and you will be able to log in to your account again. However, because of your current play patterns, we recommend that you consider a longer or permanent self-exclusion.

“You can set any exclusions via the spend and play settings in your National Lottery account or by contacting the customer care team.”

The Daily Star has contacted The National Lottery for comment.