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Glitch hits Lottery ticket sales Glitch hits Lottery ticket sales
(20 minutes later)
Customers have been unable to buy tickets for the National Lottery after problems with the network's communication system. National Lottery operator Camelot has apologised after a technical problem left customers across the country unable to buy tickets.
Lottery operator Camelot said the difficulties affected those buying in-store or via its website. It said the "network communications issue" had affected those buying in-store or via its website on Saturday.
Camelot apologised to players and said engineers were working to resolve the "network issue". Camelot said the problem had been "intermittent" and reassured those who had already bought their tickets that the draws would go ahead as usual.
It reassured people who had already bought their tickets that the draws would go ahead as usual. A spokesman said all ticket machines were working as normal after 1800 GMT.
A message on the lottery website on Saturday evening said: "Our Draw Games are closed. Why not try our exciting Instant Win Games?" A message on the lottery website on Saturday afternoon said: "Our Draw Games are closed. Why not try our exciting Instant Win Games?"
Later, the website began accepting transactions again, but was working slowly due to higher than usual demand.
Camelot's spokesman said the problem had been "intermittent in retailers up and down the country" on Saturday.Camelot's spokesman said the problem had been "intermittent in retailers up and down the country" on Saturday.
The glitch had resulted in either slower than normal transactions or retailers being unable to perform transactions at all, he added. It had resulted in either slower than normal transactions or retailers being unable to perform transactions at all, he added.