The last time Richard Branson tried to get his hands on the National Lottery and didn't, he was a bitterly disappointed man, writes George Frew. This time, it's personal - so it's hardly surprising that the recently-enobled Sir Richard is coming out of his corner with big plans, big promises and the big guns on his side, in the shape of the world's richest man, Bill Gates.

The Microsoft billionaire has thrown his hand in with Branson as the Kidlington-based Virgin boss attempts to gain control of the lottery from current operator Camelot, which has attracted a blizzard of criticism over their executive fat cat pay packets and the amount of profits Camelot has racked up for its shareholder companies. With very few exceptions, the Oxfordshire tycoon knows how to pick winners, and whether you think of Gates as the ultimate computer geek or software nerd, he certainly knows how to make technology make money.

Microsoft has joined Branson's People's Lottery bid as the technology partner in the enterprise and will offer technical support and build the new computer infrastructure required to run a national lottery.

People will always gamble, though Sir Richard claims that up to 12 million people who used to buy lottery tickets with almost religious zeal can no longer be bothered.

Branson, ever the smiling optimist, believes that his People's Lottery can persuade up to six million of them to return to the ticket-buying fold - and that the scheme would create a millionaire for every day of the year. And that, in addition, there would still be opportunities for giant payouts and more loot for good causes.

The telling phrase here is "not-for-profit organisation" which has a ring of irony to it, given Branson and Gates's ability to make respective mountains of money. Here we have a couple of capitalists seemingly ignoring the profit motive. Indeed, a vital element of Sir Richard's bid is that companies supplying the People's Lottery with services would not be shareholders in the business.

And Gates believes it is possible, using the Internet, to broaden the lottery's appeal and to develop an approach to running it that would cost far less money - leaving more in the pot of gold for everyone. Gates has also spoken of "a richer experience" and of "the vision" of the People's Lottery. The vision of Branson and Gates working in tandem is hardly likely to make Camelot executives sleep any easier at night. After six years, the golden goose may about to take flight - lured into a nice, new, comfy, non-profit nest by two men with no apparent interest in feathering their own. One of the world's master publicists and the planet's richest man - a dream team to give Camelot chiefs nightmares.

Bill Gates's global domination has long been complete and he has a long-established habit of giving large chunks of cash away to charity, so the idea of being involved with the People's Lottery undoubtedly appeals to him. Branson, meanwhile has always been perceived by the great British public, ie, his potential punters, as a benefactor with a beard, a kindly tycoon, a generous boss and a taker of risks. We may be sure that in the weeks and months to come until the winning bid is announced next year, Sir Richard will milk the "not-for-profit" angle for all it's worth.

So far, Camelot's rather feeble response has been to announce that it would cut its chief executive's pay package if it retained the lottery licence.

And to date, Camelot has created 927 millionaires, since the first draw was made in November, 1994.

I checked this on computer - using Microsoft Explorer software.

Branson and Bill are coming.

And this time, it's personal.

Story date: Tuesday 08 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.