National Lottery operator Camelot has doubled Operation Child visits in a crackdown on retailer discipline in its new franchise.
It will test purchase from 10,000 of its 25,000 terminals a year to check retailers are refusing ticket sales to shoppers who look under 16.
Camelot director of security John Branscombe said: "Retailers who fail to warn and train staff can expect to be caught out and will only have themselves to blame for failing to take advantage of the training we offer."
Camelot has also asked retailers to proactively sell tickets to non-lottery shoppers.
National field sales controller Tony Clark said: "The lottery earns more money for the space it uses than any other product. It is a great commercial advantage. We have 80,000 people queuing up for a terminal."
As part of a tranche of measures, Camelot will examine the viability of terminals held by retailers who are closed in peak lottery footfall hours between 6pm and 7.30pm on Saturday.
Camelot says about 1,500 underperforming retailers will have terminals removed every year under the new regime, but the balance between multiple and independent outlets will remain around 65% independent.
Some 500 retailers who sold under £1,500 of tickets a week in the last quarter of 2001 already face losing their terminals if they fail a 24-week sales improvement programme. (The Grocer, January 26)
Retailers who underperform this quarter will start the programme in 12 weeks time.
Camelot plans to build awareness of best practice this year with a retailer rally initiative.
Up to 200 retailers a time will be asked to meet representatives from Camelot at the half-day workshops to share ideas for building lottery business.
A trial rally was held at Haydock Park, Liverpool last September, and two rallies are taking place this month in Slough, Berkshire.
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