Camelot has pledged to waive operating fees and not to sanction stores switching off or restricting National Lottery services.

Co-op, Morrisons and some McColl’s stores all enacted restrictions including stopping lottery payouts as shopkeepers called for action over non-essential customer journeys.

Coronavirus: Camelot HQ evacuated

One newsagent said 5% of all transactions were standalone lottery purchases. “Camelot could prevent thousands of journeys and save people’s lives,” they claimed.

Camelot said: “We will not be imposing sanctions on any retailer who has decided to temporarily close because of Covid-19.” 

It also pledged to not penalise terminal switch-offs, and to waive and refund operating fees for stores with Compact Lottery Terminals.

Find out more on our coronavirus information hub for retailers