The Deutscher Lotto und Totoblock (DLTB), Germany’s state lottery association, has announced that it is ‘satisfied’ with lottery ticket sales across Germany’s 16 states, with the amounts wagered resulting in €3.2bn being returned to state governments through duties and taxes.
DLTB confirmed that for the calendar year of 2021, a total of €7.9bn was spent on lotteries across Germany, marking a slight 0.3% decline on the previous year.
From those sales, €3.2bn was returned to the German government to be spent on good causes, including areas such as welfare, sport, culture, monument preservation and environmental protection.
“We are satisfied with this result. The stakes in the DLTB are stable compared to 2020 and are subject to jackpot-related fluctuations. In addition, the stakes were made in 52 events in 2021, but 53 events were used in the previous year,” commented Axel Holthaus, Managing Director of Lotto Lower Saxony.
Breaking down the most popular games, Lotto 6aus49 generated $4bn, around 51% of the overall taking throughout 2021. DLTB concluded that, since a change in the winning plan, there have been higher jackpots and more players.
“The game participants benefited significantly from this further development in Lotto 6aus49 – with a six in Lotto you have another chance of winning millions,” added Holthaus.
Furthermore, the body noted that online sales were increasing, with more players switching to digital platforms throughout the year. €985m was generated via digital channels in 2021, 7.89% higher than during 2020.
“True to the motto ‘Be where your customer is’, the 16 state lottery companies of the DLTB also offer their attractive product portfolio online. With the help of secure and modern technology, they can comprehensively fulfill their channeling task on the Internet,” explained Sven Osthoff, Managing Director of Lotto Lower Saxony.
From the regulatory perspective, Germany imposed its Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag (GlüNeuRStv) in July 2021, which changed the tax laws in the country, something which the lottery companies have supported.
“The State Treaty on Gaming 2021, which has been in force since July 1, 2021, provides the regulatory framework for the next few years. The comprehensive political consensus with which the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 was agreed is a success, as otherwise there would have been a patchwork of gambling regulation – with corresponding effects on the protection of players and minors,” concluded Osthoff.
