Statistics and research release
Funds raised for good causes Q1 2023 to 2024
Income from game sales by quarter and versus last year. Represents Quarter 1 2023 to 2024.
Summary
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Funds raised for good causes
Published: August 2023
Reporting Period: Quarter 1, 2023 to 2024 (April to June)
Since its launch in November 1994, the National Lottery has raised over £47 billion for good causes that include sports (including Olympic athletes), arts and heritage, as well as health, education and the environment.
Funds are raised from the sale of National Lottery games and supplemented by items such as unclaimed prizes. The funds for good causes are held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF).
The Commission ensures that payments from the Lottery operator to good causes (which are held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund) are accurate and on time.
Key facts
Total funds raised for good causes between Q1 2022 to 2023 and Q1 2023 to 20241
The chart below shows the most recent quarter and the preceding four quarters for comparative purposes. For consistency, each week’s ending date must fall within the reporting quarter, therefore the number of weeks within the quarters may vary.
The total raised for good causes in Quarter 1 (April to June) was £411.3M. This was £21.2M (negative 4.9 percent) below Quarter 4 2022 to 2023 and £11.6M (negative 2.7 percent) below Quarter 1 in 2022 to 2023. The last 5 quarters have generated £2.2bn to good causes.
| 2022 to 2023 Quarter 1 |
2022 to 2023 Quarter 2 |
2022 to 2023 Quarter 3 |
2022 to 2023 Quarter 4 |
2023 to 2024 Quarter 1 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount raised for good causes | £422.9 million | £501.8 million | £434.1 million | 432.5 million | 411.3 million |
Details
Funds raised for good causes in Quarter 1 2023 to 2024 were £21.2 million (negative 4.9 percent) lower than Quarter 4 2022 to 2023, and £11.6 million (negative 2.7 percent) lower than Quarter 1 2022 to 2023.
The decrease in returns to good causes can be attributed to a combination of a £90.6 million (negative 4.7 percent) decrease in sales, along with a circa £17 million reduction in unclaimed prizes, compared to the previous quarter.
Instant products and EuroMillions experienced the most notable decline in sales compared to Quarter 4 2022 to 2023. Scratchcards and Interactive Instant Win Games (IIWG) sales decreased by £52.9 million (negative 6.4 percent), whilst EuroMillions sales decreased by £25.2 million (negative 5.9 percent), compared to the previous quarter.
Notes
1Amounts relate to total value of proceeds from game sales and other income and adjustments, including unclaimed prizes, raised for good causes. For clarity Quarter 1 of 2023 to 2024 comprises funds raised over a 12 week period (1 April to week ending 24 June). Quarter 4 2022 to 2023 comprises funds raised over a 12 week period (week ending 7 January to week ending 31 March). Quarter 1 2022 to 2023 comprises funds raised over a 12 week period.
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