Euromillions

Request

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and would like to make a request for information regarding EuroMillions Ticket Sales and Jackpot Figures broken down per draw over the last couple of years.

Response

Thank you for your further request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

In your email you have requested the EuroMillions Ticket Sales and Jackpot Figures broken down per draw over the last couple of years.

Please see the attached spreadsheet containing the information held by the Gambling Commission falling within the scope of your request.

When viewing these figures, it should be noted that:

The Commission has provided data for draws between 30 March 2021 and 30 January 2024. The Commission only holds historic Jackpot amounts in Euros (€) which relates to the overall jackpot of each draw. Sales information has been provided for UK sales only and has been provided in Pounds (£). The sales information has been provided for the value of ticket sales for each individual draw. EuroMillions ticket price during this period has remained at £2.50.

The last 6 months of data, at any given time, for jackpot amounts can be found on the National Lottery website: EuroMillions draw history | Results | The National Lottery (national-lottery.co.uk)(opens in a new tab).

The Commission does hold data concerning sales information from January 2024 onwards. However, we consider this information to be of a commercially sensitive nature and therefore exempt under section 43 of the FOIA. Section 43(2) exempts information where disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any legal person (an individual, a company, the public authority itself or any other legal entity). Section 43 is a qualified exemption, and we are required to consider whether maintaining the exemption is in the public interest.

Arguments in favour of disclosure:

• There is a legitimate public interest in promoting the transparency of the Commission and in making information available to the public.
• Further to this, there is a legitimate public interest in understanding the performance of the National Lottery as a vehicle for providing money to good causes.

Arguments in favour of maintaining the exemption:

• To the extent that there is a public interest in understanding how National Lottery products are performing, sales data is already published routinely, which should provide such an understanding.
• With the recency of the figures, given the operator has not yet reported formally on the period from January 2024 onwards, the release of such information at this time could be damaging to the operator’s commercial interests as the release of sales figures, in isolation, without appropriate context and explanation of overall sales performance leaves them open to misinterpretation, either inadvertently or deliberately, by third parties who can then go on to paint a misleading picture of The National Lottery based on partial information.
• This could adversely affect sales of the National Lottery, as a consequence, having an impact on the level of funding raised for Good Causes.

Weighing the balance:

Having weighed these issues, the Commission is of the view that the public interest is best served through maintaining this exemption.

Whilst the Commission aims to be open and transparent, there is a need to preserve the confidentiality of information submitted on that basis and to be mindful of the commercial sensitivities of information that is held. There is very little that providing this information would do in terms of the public interest whilst disclosure would be likely to impact on the commercial interests of the operator and the statutory duties of the Gambling Commission.

Review of the decision

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email.

Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.

If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission.

The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in a new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Information Management Team
Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham B2 4BP

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