If you've regularly visited this blog for countless years, especially around Autumn, you're bound to have seen me hype up the annual National Lottery Advent scratch cards.
I play one each year, scratching off one window a day from December 1st through to Christmas Eve.
Unfortunately, I've made the decision not to buy one for Christmas 2026. Here's why.
The National Lottery's current owners - Allwyn - have made some drastic changes to the 'Christmas Countdown' theme.
As you can see above, this year's card offers players thirty-two chances of winning a £1 Million jackpot. On the surface, that's excellent, giving six opportunities more than previous versions of the £5 cards.
There's one of a few problems, however.
These cards were devised using an Advent calendar theme. There should only be twenty-four windows. Thirty-two 'windows', in this game, is losing the spirit.
Sure, I could change things up by scratching once a day from late November.
The design doesn't even look like a regular Christmas theme. For example, check out the cards I played in 2014 and even the previous version.
This year's looks like a generic scratch card with a half-assed attempt to make it look somewhat festive using colours associated with Christmas and throwing a bit of decorations here and there.
Contrasted with every single Advent card I've ever played in my lifetime, it is shoddy.
This isn't the only change Allwyn has made to the traditional National Lottery business this year.
A few months ago, the operator - who picked up the licence in 2024 - introduced a new way of playing the regular National Lottery. Players' numbers are now entered into two draws each Wednesday and Saturday.
Just like with this scratch card shake up, I found the new approach pointless. As did a family member who opted to stop buying tickets after being a weekly player since the first draw in 1994.
I could close by stating 'if it ain't broke, why fix it?' but that would mean I'd know how good or bad the National Lottery's business is doing right now.
What I do know is this: Advent begins December 1st. Not November 22nd.
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