The UK lottery scene is seeing fantastic growth across several areas, according to the ‘Industry Statistics – November 2020’ report by the Gambling Commission.
The report shows that both the National Lottery and other lotteries saw growth over the period between April 2019 and March 2020. The National Lottery, operated by Camelot, saw its ticket sales increase by £696.4m to £7.9bn.
The rise was supported by a Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) equivalent increase of £319.9m (10.4%), to £3.4bn, making the National Lottery the second largest activity by GGY. Over the same period, the primary contribution to good causes increased by £172.3m (11.6%) to £1.7bn.
Other lotteries (excluding the National Lottery and small society lotteries), saw a GGY equivalent increase to £611.6m (13.3%), with a balance to good causes at £366.8m, a £35.6m (10.7%) increase from the last reporting period. This is the highest contribution figure reported to date.
Total GGY for the industry was £14.2bn in the period, marking a slight decrease of £84.1m (-0.6%) on the previous reporting period.
Elsewhere, machines GGY over the year across all sectors decreased by £719.1m (-25.6%), while non-remote betting GGY saw a 26.4% decrease, but was still the third-largest sector by GGY with £2.4bn.
Remote (online) gambling is the largest combined sector by GGY. With £5.7bn GGY, it comprises 39.9% of the overall market. Remote sector GGY increased by £426.3m (8.1%). Online casino games dominate the sector, generating £3.2bn in GGY, mostly from slots. GGY for remote betting totalled £2.3bn, led by football and horse betting, while remote bingo grew 0.9% to £176.8m.
Camelot announced last week it recorded its second-best ever National Lottery ticket sales for the first six months of the 2020/21 financial year, despite an 18% hit to sales at the start of the pandemic.
