Statistics and research release
Funds raised for good causes Q3 2022 to 2023
Income from game sales by quarter and versus last year. Represents Quarter 3 2022 to 2023.
Summary
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Funds raised for good causes
Published: February 2023
Reporting Period: Quarter 3, 2022 to 2023 (October to December)
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 Gambling 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 Q3 2021 to 2022 and Q3 2022 to 20231
The chart 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 3 (October to December) was £434.1 million. This was £67.7 million (13.5 percent) below Quarter 2 2022 to 2023, and £74.4 million (14.6 percent) below Quarter 3 in 2021 to 2022. The last five quarters have generated £2.4 billion to good causes.
| 2021 to 2022 Quarter 3 |
2021 to 2022 Quarter 4 |
2022 to 2023 Quarter 1 |
2022 to 2023 Quarter 2 |
2022 to 2023 Quarter 3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount raised for good causes | £508.5 million | £491.3 million | £422.9 million | £501.8 million | £434.1 million |
Details
Funds raised for good causes this quarter were £67.7 million (13.5 percent) below the previous quarter, and they were £74.4 million (14.6 percent) below Quarter 3 2021 to 2022.
Total returns to good causes have decreased in Quarter 3 due to a combination of contributing factors, such as:
- the Quarter 3 sales mix shifted towards instant products, with scratchcards and Interactive Instant Win Games (IIWG) sales up (circa £76 million) and EuroMillions sales down in Quarter 3 (circa £110 million)
- in addition unclaimed prizes reduced and marketing spend increased in Quarter 3, both of which impacts on the net returns figure.
These factors explain why sales remained high but returns were lower in Quarter 3 compared with Quarter 2.
Notes
1Amounts relate to total value of proceeds from game sales raised for good causes in approximate calendar quarters. Quarter 3 of 2022 to 2023 comprises funds raised between the week ending 1 October to 31 December. They include all other income and adjustments from game sales, including unclaimed prizes.
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