Lottery Officials Celebrate £7.6 Billion in Ticket Sales
Last Updated: Wednesday 25th May 2016, 10:47
An increase in smartphone ticket sales and larger main game prizes are just two of the reasons the National Lottery has seen sales hit an astonishing £7.6 billion. By the end of March, ticket revenue had risen by an impressive £317 million compared to the same time last year.
This rapid growth isn’t just good news for lottery officials. Camelot, the company responsible for running the lottery, confirmed that a record £4.2 billion was paid out to lucky winners, a result that will almost certainly joy to Lotto fans everywhere. The increase comes as a result of changes made to the main game in October that saw prizes become more robust and at least two guaranteed millionaires crowned every week. So far the scheme seems to be working, with a number of sizeable top prizes offered in comparison to last year and seven of the 13 jackpots won since the 10th October 2015 worth in excess of £10 million.
The good news doesn’t end there, as £1.9 billion of the total has been used to fund the National Lottery’s Good Causes scheme, which includes charities and art projects. The money is also helping to support the country’s Olympic athletes as they prepare to take on the world’s elite in Rio later this year. In total, more than £35 billion has been raised by the National Lottery for the Good Causes fund since Lotto ticket sales began in 1994.
The boost in revenue is partly down to a dramatic increase in the sale of tickets on smartphones and tablets. Figures indicate a 53% escalation in sales on digital devices, resulting in growth of up to £596 million. Newsagent ticket sales, which make up around 80 percent of total sales, have also rocketed by £73 million to a remarkable £6.01 billion thanks to the distribution of Lotto and EuroMillions tickets as well as scratchcards.
In the last six months, Lotto has rewarded the efforts of more than 100 people with prizes of more than £1 million, and if you’d like to join them in their celebrations, this evening’s jackpot is worth an estimated £6 million. Tickets can be purchased online, including via smartphone and tablet devices, or from any authorised retailer throughout the country. Good luck!