Lottery to change name to Lotto

THE National Lottery is poised to change its name to Lotto under a facelift to boost flagging ticket sales.

The name change is one of a series of transformations expected in a £72m relaunch which aims to rekindle public interest.

The new-look National Lottery will be unveiled next month, according to organiser Camelot.

Other changes include plans to pilot multi-media units dispensing Instants in stores, according to industry insiders.

A Camelot spokeswoman said: 'The relaunch will be used to introduce many new concepts and formats for the Lottery games. We are planning a big relaunch TV and press advertising campaign for the start of May.'

She added: 'We are not actually revealing any of the plans for the relaunch.

'In the first quarter of the financial year starting in April 2001, sales were disappointing.

'However, in the second part of the year they have stabilised. We are particularly positive about sales in the Wednesday game, recently over £25m.'

The National Lottery was launched eight years ago. While it initially appeared to capture the attention of the nation, Britons have since grown increasingly bored with the game.

Last year it emerged that Camelot's profits crashed by more than a quarter. Camelot is jointly owned by The Post Office, Cadbury Schweppes, Racal Electronics, ICL and De La Rue.