National Lottery Q3 2024: £50bn donated to good causes since launch

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The National Lottery has now surpassed £50bn in donations towards charities, according to their newly-released Q3 report.

Initially launched in 1994 with the remit of raising money for good causes while offering an opportunity for players to win potentially life-changing jackpots, the National Lottery has now hit this significant landmark, which includes £435.5m raised during the third quarter between October and December 2024. 

Over 80% of proceeds from the sale of National Lottery tickets and scratchcards go to good causes, and the figure is further supplemented with the addition of unclaimed prizes and other sources. Nearly £100bn has been paid out in prizes since its inauguration and more than 7,000 players have been made millionaires or multi-millionaires as a result. In total, the competition has paid out approximately half that much again, to good causes. 

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This figure includes £435.5m provided between October and December 2024. This represented a £15.7m fall from the previous quarter, but a £35.5m year-on-year rise. Overall, £2.2bn has been paid out in the last five quarters. 

Despite the drop in the previous quarter, there was an increase in ticket sales of £100.1m. Most of this increase came from Euromillions sales, which were up £80.6m. Compared to the same period in 2023, sales were up £14.2m, despite a £32.5m drop in lottery ticket sales and a fall of £46.8m in scratchcards. 

However, EuroMillions saw an increase of £70.3m for the year, while digital instant win games were up £21.6m. 

The good causes grants are awarded to health, education, environment and charitable causes, as well as sports, arts, and heritage sites. A dozen specialist organisations determine the recipients. In total, more than 700,000 awards have been made to various funds and charitable organisations since the lottery has been running.

The National Lottery launched in the UK in 1994. Originally, it was run and maintained by Camelot in Watford. However, in 2024, it was announced that Camelot would be replaced by Allwyn. Allwyn was granted a 10-year licence that will run until 2034. 

Allwyn not only beat Camelot but also fended off bids from Richard Desmond, the media tycoon who runs the Health Lottery, and Sisal. Sisal’s bid was complicated when it was bought out by Flutter halfway through the bidding process. 

According to reports, Czech company Allwyn was successful in its bid because, according to some reports, it promised to return more than £30bn to good causes during the first 10 years of its contract. 

It has promised the launch of new technology, as well as the reintroduction of major Saturday night draws. Allwyn has also promised to help curb problem gambling by imposing restrictions such as preventing late-night ticket purchases and installing limits on purchases. 

Camelot has previously said that it will cease to operate if it loses the National Lottery licence. It ceased to operate as of last year. Allwyn has kept on existing staff in the Watford National Lottery offices and, based on the yearly increases in charitable donations, it appears to be sticking to its promises.