Lottery agencies in Seville estimate that sales have dropped around 40% in the last few months, compared to their performance in the same period in 2019.
Spain was the epicenter of the COVID pandemic in the second quarter of the year, and lotteries were among the most affected businesses in recent months seeing as sales within the country depend on independent vendors and retail points of sale which in turn were the subjects of restrictions due to the extended lockdown.
According to Diario de Sevilla, in recent weeks there has been an increase in lottery sales, but the difference between 2019 and 2020 is still significant.
The use of credit cards and a new website, featuring online payment methods, have allowed lotteries to navigate the last few months.
However, the agencies insist that local tourism is needed to boost their businesses, since the elderly are the main lottery clients in Spain and an initiative to increase international tourism wouldn’t help them.
Recently, the National Association of Provincial Associations of Lottery Administrators (Anapal) said that the new Christmas campaign would help them raise €2.9bn and mitigate the COVID effects in the region.
“The Christmas draw, which characterises the solidarity of the Spanish society, is a great opportunity to restore normalcy,” said Josep Manuel Iborra, president of Anapal.
