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The plans are for a new co-branded Sky and National Lottery "hub" with the two companies exploring opportunities to make Lottery products and services available across the whole range of Sky's interactive platforms -- including broadband internet, interactive TV and mobile.

The exact details of the form the interactive games will take remains undisclosed.

Dianne Thompson, Camelot chief executive, said: "Our bid for the third lottery licence is all about innovation, increased convenience for our customers, and social responsibility -- three areas in which Sky excels.

"Together we will be able to offer players more ways than ever before to buy lottery tickets, and further boost those all-important returns to good causes."

Bids for the third licence to operate The National Lottery have to be submitted to the National Lottery Commission by today (9 February 2007). The successful bidder is will be revealed in summer 2007, and the new licence will commence in 2009.

James Murdoch, BSkyB chief executive, added: "By integrating lottery services across Sky platforms -- and in so doing harnessing the best in our multi-platform, interactive technologies - we hope to drive more value and fun into the whole lottery experience."

This week, Camelot has been running a marketing campaign, created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, to promote the EuroMillions birthday draw with a guaranteed £66m jackpot.

Camelot has already signed partnership deals with Microsoft and IBM. Microsoft will facilitate sales of National Lottery tickets on its Windows Live messenger service and its Windows live Spaces. IBM has been tasked with supplying the hardware and software for Camelot's central database.

The campaign, has been constructed to promote tonight's February 9 draw, which is being held to celebrate the third birthday of the National Lottery's pan-European game.

Activity is running across TV and radio, with press advertising and competitions as part of the promotional material.

All proposed services will be subject to approval by the National Lottery Commission.