If plans to unplug hundreds of lottery machines are agreed, the name of the game must change. It will no longer be the National Lottery.

The word 'national' cannot apply when significant numbers of people are denied the chance to participate because of their postcode.

Both companies bidding for the lottery franchise, Camelot and Richard Branson's People's Lottery, are looking to cut the number of outlets. Camelot proposes to axe 1,000 of the least profitable machines. The People's Lottery says it will give such outlets less than a year to improve.

Many of the poorly-performing lottery outlets will be in rural areas. They cannot make a huge profit because there are too few customers. But these customers have as much right as anyone to take part in the game.

The shops themselves will be dealt a huge blow if their lottery terminals are terminated. Rural traders' hopes were raised by this week's Government White Paper which outlined measures to help them. Now they have been deflated once more.

Lottery terminals are a lifeline for countless corner shops, particularly those in the countryside. The twice-weekly draw has even changed trading hours.

Today many smaller shops stay open later on a Wednesday and a Saturday to accommodate lottery players, who often make another purchase when buying their ticket. It is vital revenue.

Closing lottery outlets is unfair to the players, unfair to the shopkeepers and financially unwarranted. Even with Camelot pledging to halve its profits, it would still rake in £24 million a year for very little effort. The cost of supplying a machine and connection to a local shop is negligible by comparison.

Although run by a private concern, the National Lottery is regulated by the Lottery Commission. The commissioners must show their teeth by insisting that both franchise bidders maintain the existing number of outlets.

Otherwise, instead of a National Lottery we will end up with a City Lottery.