Pools wins could reach pounds 8m under roll-over provision

FOOTBALL POOL jackpots could reach pounds 8m in the future once legislation introducing the national lottery comes into effect next month.

The Act that permits the lottery enables the football pool companies to compete on an even footing with the lottery by allowing prizes to be rolled over for up to three weeks where the top prize has not been won in the previous week.

When the first prize in the national lottery is rolled over, the pools companies will also be able to roll over if no one has achieved maximum points. The largest single jackpot paid out by Littlewoods to date has been pounds 2.25m.

The National Lottery Act 1993 (Commencement No 3) Order 1994, which comes into effect on 14 November, will also reduce the age limit of those allowed to play the football pools from 18 to 16 years, and allow all shops, as well as newsagents and betting offices, to collect completed pools coupons and stake money for forwarding to a registered pools promoter.

Michael Forsyth, Minister of State in the Home Office, said yesterday: 'Playing the football pools is a well-known British tradition. Each year millions of people fill in their football pool coupons. The chance of securing larger jackpots will make it more attractive for a larger number of people to participate.

'With punters able to hand in their coupon to their local retail outlet it will provide the small shop with the chance to benefit from an extra source of revenue. I am sure this will be welcomed by small businesses all over the country,' he said.

Neither the football pools nor the National Lottery will be able to roll over for more than three weeks in succession, and the change applies only to pools competitions for association football games played at weekends or on bank holidays.

It will remain against the law for corner shops to collect coupons and stake money for pools competitions held for other sports or events. It will also remain against the law for such shops to pay out winnings.

This week's pools fixtures

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