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Lottery raises record amount for good causes

Fundraising | Niki May Young | 22 Nov 2011

Camelot has announced record half-year returns, increasing direct returns for good causes from £784.8m for the same period last year, to £918.3m in the six months to 24 September 2011.

The National Lottery has now funded 370,000 individual awards throughout the UK and delivered over £27bn in good causes funding since its launch in 1994.

Since starting its second term as the Lottery distributor in 2002, Camelot has seen a sales increase of 20 per cent. In the six months to 24 September 2011 it has witnessed an increase in sales of £542.4m to £3.26bn, contributing to the record returns for good causes.

In the year to March 2012, Camelot has calculated that around 28 per cent of the total National Lottery revenue will go to good causes.

Camelot is currently awaiting to hear if it will be awarded a five-year extension to its Lottery contract. In June this year it put forward proposals to the National Lottery Commission, promising to install a further 8,000 terminals in suburban areas throughout the UK and raise an additional £1.4bn between 2012 and 2024. Camelot’s contract is currently set to run out in 2019.

Speaking of the record results for the last six-month period, Dianne Thompson, Camelot chief executive, said: “We’ve made an extremely positive start to the 2011/12 financial year, raising a record amount for the good causes and paying out record sums in prize money to our players – which is what the National Lottery is all about. But this success isn’t an overnight phenomenon. It’s the result of our proven strategy for responsible growth that has seen our sales rise steadily and our player numbers increase over the long term by encouraging many people to play but to spend relatively small amounts.”

Earlier this year concerns were raised about the potential of the new Health Lottery to detract from the National Lottery's funds. Prior to its launch in October Sir Stephen Bubb, Acevo chief executive, criticised the Health Lottery for competing directly with the National Lottery, but donating a smaller percentage to good causes. Since its launch it has seen interest from a number of charities, but has also faced potential investigations by the National Lottery Commission and the Gambling Commission for its potential to erode other charitable income.

Good causes money is distributed by 13 lottery distributors including the Big Lottery Fund, Arts Council England and the Olympic Lottery Distributor.

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Directory: Big Lottery Fund