Total sales for the six months from 1 April to 25 September increased by 2.7% (£107.3m) compared to the same period last year. This growth can be attributed to our strong digital performance, innovative draw-based games, and our brand presence during the UK coverage of the Tokyo Olympics.
Draw-based games were the main driver of sales in H1, with a 3.6% rise to £2.23bn. All products in our portfolio experienced year-on-year growth. Additionally, the ‘rolldown’ feature for Lotto, which activates when there are ‘must be won’ draws, resulted in higher payouts for all winners, despite fewer rollovers for the EuroMillions.
Sales of National Lottery scratchcards and online instant win games increased by 1.6% to £1.73bn. This growth was primarily driven by the ease of Covid-19 restrictions in the UK, leading to a 6.7% increase in in-store scratchcard sales. However, online instant win games experienced an 8.8% decline. It’s important to note that scratchcard sales are still below pre-pandemic levels as consumer shopping habits continue to evolve.
In terms of retail sales, the total across all products reached £2.34bn, a 4.5% increase from last year. This solidifies our position as the National Lottery’s largest retail channel. Retailer commission also saw a 5.1% increase to £133.0m. We expanded our network by partnering with Aldi and Iceland supermarkets, making National Lottery draw-based games available in approximately 1,900 additional stores.
Digital sales reached a record high of £1.62bn, with a year-on-year increase of 0.2%. This slight growth follows a significantly strong first half in 2020 when sales surged by 39.1% due to retail closures and the shift to online platforms caused by the pandemic. Mobile sales experienced a 1.8% increase, reaching an all-time high of £1.15bn, reflecting the growing trend of smartphone shopping. We also gained over 795,000 new online registrations during this period.
During the half, the National Lottery awarded £2.27bn in prize money, an increase of £30.6m compared to last year. This also resulted in the creation of 184 new millionaires. 1% of our sales were retained as profit, while 4% was allocated to operating costs. The remaining funds were primarily dedicated to good causes, with a contribution of £884.5m in the six months, marking a 2.4% increase from the previous year. The National Lottery has now contributed over £45.0bn to good causes since its launch in 1994.
Camelot’s CEO, Nigel Railton, expressed satisfaction with the overall performance, noting the increase in sales and public participation as evidence of a successful strategy. He also highlighted the growth of the flagship game, Lotto, which had been enhanced through various initiatives. Railton credited the summer campaign, showcasing the funding of Olympians’ and Paralympians’ training, as a key driver of engagement. Chair Sir Hugh Robertson emphasized that this campaign improved public perception of the National Lottery brand, paralleling the positive reception during the initial Covid-19 lockdown when funding commitments were announced.
Railton concluded by expressing gratitude to colleagues, retails, and distributors for their contributions to the ongoing success of the National Lottery.
