The culture secretary today announced plans for a widescale review of the rules and regulations governing the national lottery.

Publishing a document into the future regulation of the twice-weekly draw Tessa Jowell has invited comments as part of a no-holds barred review into the games future.

Following criticism of the fiasco which surrounded the lottery commission's decision to award the contract to Camelot, the government is to look again at the issue.

She said the review will examine whether lighter touch regulation would allow the lottery to continue successfully.

"The National Lottery is barely eight years old, but has already become part of the fabric of our society. Its success can be seen in communities up and down the country," she said.

"We want that to continue and the time is now right therefore to look again at the way in which the lottery is licensed and regulated.

"This consultation is about whether the regulatory framework is one in which we will continue to maximise lottery income, whilst ensuring the Lottery continues to be run properly and that players interests are protected."

The minister insisted that the government was looking at the issue with an open mind.

"There are no preconceptions. No set ideas. We have an open mind about the outcome. I would encourage all those who care about the future of the lottery to read the document and respond," she said.

The review will examine the how the lottery is licensed, the system used to award the contract and the length of the contract itself.

Jowell has invited representations on how the lottery should be regulated in future - examining the mechanisms for determining how much money is given in prizes and how much goes to good causes.

The government came under fire in December 2000 when Richard Branson's People's Lottery lost its bid to run the weekly-draw after the commission decided that Camelot offered the best option for maximising revenue for good causes.

The commission, which had earlier rejected Camelot's submission, said it believed there were too many risks associated with Branson's bid.

The decision amounted to a serious blow to the government - which had pledged to secure a not-for-profit operator.

Jowell's announcement will come in a written answer to be published on the DCMS website at 12.30pm.

Earlier this year, the culture secretary announced plans to reduce the amount of unspent lottery funds.

The minister also advocated changes to the financial rules which dictate how the distribution fund - which currently stands at a £3.5 billion surplus - is spent.