complaint that Emap magazines J17, More! and Bliss ran illegal lotteries.
The probe concerns competitions in the magazines that invited readers to win prizes by sending a text message via a mobile phone or calling a premiumrate telephone number.
J17 offered readers a chance to win a digital camcorder and More! offered £3,000 worth of “goodies”, including the chance to be a pop idol and win a DVD player and manicure set.
Model agency boss Raymond Hoppkrofft has written to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens demanding an inquiry, claiming that, with the exception of the National Lottery and those covered by the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976, all lotteries are illegal.
He claimed that, because the winners were chosen at random and there was no skill involved, the games are “lotteries”.
A Met Police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm we have received a complaint from a member of the public about illegal lotteries being conducted in teenage publications.
Clubs and Vice Gaming Unit is investigating an allegation that illegal lotteries are being run. No arrests have been made and inquiries are continuing.”
By Ruth Addicott
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