Lotto gives £1.7bn for good causes

National Lottery operator Camelot yesterday revealed it delivered £1.7 billion to good causes in the last financial year, after sales hit an all-time high.

The company, which runs games including Lotto and National Lottery scratchcards, reported sales across all channels of 5.8bn in the year to 31 March, beating the 1997-98 record of 5.5bn.

The bumper haul saw prize winners bag a combined total of 2.9bn, while 1.7bn went to good causes - from arts projects to healthcare charities.

Camelot, which is owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, was awarded the National Lottery franchise in 1993 and sells tickets to 28,000 retailers across the UK.

Dianne Thompson, group chief executive, said: "Setting a new sales record this year is a fantastic achievement."

Lottery players have raised more than 26bn for good causes since 1994, while some 2,600 millionaires have been created.

The number of players has increased by 5 per cent in the last five years. Draw-based games saw sales increase nearly 5 per cent to 4.3bn.

Retail - including corner shops, supermarkets and petrol forecourts - accounts for 85 per cent of all sales. More than 600 million has been raised for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games through specially-designated games, such as the Win Gold scratchcard.

The sporting event will receive 2.2bn in lottery funding, with a target of 750m to come from specially-designated games.