The Spanish lottery and betting regulator (SELAE) is working on a campaign to maximise its Christmas draw sales, which represents between 50% to 70% of the total lottery revenue in the country. SELAE wants to increase the campaign’s reach in order to boost sales before the end of the year.

Jesús Huerta, President of SELAE, told LOC that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on local finances. The National Association of Provincial Associations of Lottery Administrators (Anapal) recently explained that Alicante suffered a 40% drop in sales, a figure that has been replicated in other local jurisdictions.

Huerta said: “Although we haven’t entered our best-selling point yet, it’s evident that lottery sales, like the rest of other commercial activities, is being negatively affected by the pandemic, the crisis and the lockdown restrictions.”

SELAE’s President added that, given the importance of the Christmas draw, they’re ‘working to give it the maximum score and encourage participation, within the possibilities [during the pandemic].’

He stated: “Sharing a lottery ticket with colleagues, family or friends is another example of our solidarity and [this is currently] necessary. Loterías, as a non-profit public company, benefits society.”

In order to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, Spanish lotteries launched a campaign in July for the Christmas raffle, months before the usual schedule, in an aim to raise at least €2.9bn.

However, given the significant drop in sales in different local jurisdictions, it is estimated that they won’t be able to reach that revenue by the end of 2020.