Statistics and research release
Funds raised for good causes Q3 2025 to 2026: Official statistics
Income from game sales by quarter and versus last year. Represents Quarter 3 (October to December) 2025 to 2026.
Summary
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Funds raised for good causes
Published: February
Reporting Period: Quarter 3, 2025 to 2026 (October to December 2025)
Since its launch in November 1994, the National Lottery has raised over £52 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).
Key facts
Total funds raised for good causes between Quarter 3 2024 to 2025 and Quarter 3 2025 to 20261
The chart shows the most recent quarter and the preceding 4 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) 2025 to 2026 was £410.8 million. This was £50.1 million (10.9 percent) below Quarter 2 (July to September) 2025 to 2026 and £24.6 million (5.7 percent) below Quarter 3 in 2024 to 2025. The last 4 quarters have generated over £1.8 billion for good causes.
| 2024 to 2025 Quarter 3 |
2024 to 2025 Quarter 4 |
2025 to 2026 Quarter 1 |
2025 to 2026 Quarter 2 |
2025 to 2026 Quarter 3 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount raised for good causes | £435.5 million | £479.2 million | £485.0 million | £460.9 million | £410.8 million |
Details
Funds raised for good causes in Quarter 3 2025 to 2026 were £50.1 million (10.9 percent) lower than Quarter 2 2025 to 2026, and £24.6 million (5.7 percent) lower than Quarter 3 2024 to 2025.
Total National Lottery sales in Quarter 3 decreased by £39 million (2.0 percent) compared to Quarter 2 2025 to 2026, primarily due to a decrease in EuroMillions sales of £72.1 million (13.4 percent).
When compared to Quarter 3 2024 to 2025, total sales decreased by £45.8 million (2.3 percent). This was driven primarily by lower EuroMillions (£37.4 million) and Scratchcards (£22.6 million) sales compared to the same period last year. These decreases were partially offset by increase in Interactive Instant Win Games (£8.6 million) and Lotto (£9.3 million) sales compared to the same quarter last year.
Notes
1 Amounts relate to total value of proceeds from game sales and other income and adjustments, including unclaimed prizes, raised for good causes. Note, each of the 5 reported quarters cover a 13-week period.
Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million. Totals and changes are calculated using unrounded data and may not sum due to rounding.
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