Camelot

"On second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place" (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)

There's not much love lost between me and Camelot, the company disgracefully awarded the National Lottery franchise in 2000 over a non-profit rival. But since the National Lottery started in 1994 I admit I've been buying tickets most weeks. Back then it was an important weekly ray of hope for a way out of a job I was not enjoying at all.

Camelot (now with Canadian, not British owners) put a lot of emphasis on jackpot winners. But I think that most people who buy lottery tickets do so simply in the hope of winning some extra money to make life a little more comfortable. I suspect most people would be terrified to win the actual jackpot; I certainly would be and would be quite likely not to claim it.

I disagreed with Camelot introducing scratch-cards. Then I disagreed with them adding on a Wednesday draw. I've never paid for either of these additional scams. Then they doubled the fees, so I dropped to buying a ticket fortnightly instead of weekly. Now they've added 10 more numbers to choose from, reducing the odds of winning anything by at least 40%.

Anyway I think this latest swindle is a step too far. The time has come to stop the fortnightly lottery purchases/number checking. I shan't miss it.