Allwyn, the new operator of the UK National Lottery, has completed the upgrade of half of its entire retail terminal network, a crucial step in its ongoing mission to modernize the in-store experience for players and partners.
To date, over 22,000 new ‘Wave’ terminals have been installed at locations across the UK, systematically replacing hardware that had been in place since 2009.
This extensive infrastructure overhaul follows a major tech upgrade initiated earlier in August, which saw wide-scale changes across the entire National Lottery retail network.
Most notably, this included the largest ecosystem switch in the global lottery market, moving to Scientific Games’ Momentum platform. This system now powers operations across all 43,500 retail locations in the UK.
The new ‘Wave’ terminals boast several modern features designed for speed and efficiency.
These include a high-speed processor to enable faster transactions, a larger, tilt-adjustable LCD screen, and wireless 1D barcode and 2D code scanners. The new machines also feature a versatile play slip reader that can be fed both horizontally and vertically.
This terminal rollout is part of a broader strategy that has seen Allwyn’s total investment in upgrading the National Lottery’s operations and technology surpass £400 million.
Allwyn took over operating the National Lottery in February 2024, replacing Camelot under a 10-year licence secured in September 2023.
The UK initiative is concurrent with major international developments for the company, signaling a global push toward modernization and expansion.
In recent months, Allwyn International announced a massive merger deal with OPAP to create an estimated €16 billion lottery and gaming business.
Furthermore, the company acquired a majority stake in daily fantasy sports (DFS) operator PrizePicks, gaining access to the lucrative US DFS and betting space, and established a new Allwyn Digital division to drive its digitally led evolution.
Jenny Blogg, Director of Operations at Allwyn, welcomed the progress to-date:
“Our wide-ranging transformation of the National Lottery continues at pace, with thousands of Wave terminals being installed every week. We’ve now invested more than £400 million upgrading the National Lottery’s outdated operations and technology. Not only is this generating a hugely positive response from our retail partners, but it stands us in good stead to deliver on the exciting plans we have for new games, a better player experience and a commitment to double returns to good causes from £30 million to £60 million every week by the end of our licence.”
