Camelot aims for third lottery licence after hitting jackpot
THE public has rekindled its love affair with the National Lottery by spending an extra £150m a year on tickets. The increase, which saw sales soar to £4.7bn, was the result of a booming interactive market, and growth in retail sales and Lotto games.On the back of the figures, the second year running they have risen, Camelot, the operator, announced it is to bid for its third lottery licence. Its current licence ends in January 2009. This year's 3.3% total sales increase follows last year's 1% growth which was the first rise in six years. Camelot said its strategy of extending ticket distribution channels and diversifying the choice of games was behind the rise.
Retail sales grew by £69.7m in the year to March 31, 2005. Sales from postal and online subscriptions rose 38% to £23.9m. Separately, interactive sales via the internet, the Sky interactive service and Play by Text on mobile phones were up more than 600% to £87.5m. In Scotland it is estimated that 70% of adults play weekly and spend an average £2.66.The total number of winning National Lottery tickets rose by around 12% on last year to 257 million. The main Lotto game saw a 0.4% rise in ticket sales compared to a 4% drop last year.Dianne Thompson, Camelot chief executive, said she would be staying on to see the operator bid for its third licence. "I can't think of anybody who is better placed at having a go at the third bid than Camelot." She said it was "one of the most efficient lotteries in the world".In the coming year Camelot plans to roll out its National Lottery Fast Pay across the country. The system is being piloted in 10 Tesco stores, where players can buy their tickets at the checkouts. The operator also wants to offer a new Lotto HotPicks game which would enable players to win by picking just one number. This is subject to approval by the Lottery regulator.A £130,000 prize for picking and matching five numbers in the main Lotto draw is due to launch this year.
More themed scratchcards will be launched following last year's Star Wars and Scrabble cards.Ms Thompson added: "The rise in ticket sales had provided a 4.6% increase in returns to good causes."THE public has rekindled its love affair with the National Lottery by spending an extra £150m a year on tickets.The increase, which saw sales soar to £4.7bn, was the result of a booming interactive market, and growth in retail sales and Lotto games.On the back of the figures, the second year running they have risen, Camelot, the operator, announced it is to bid for its third lottery licence. Its current licence ends in January 2009.This year's 3.3% total sales increase follows last year's 1% growth which was the first rise in six years. Camelot said its strategy of extending ticket distribution channels and diversifying the choice of games was behind the rise.
Retail sales grew by £69.7m in the year to March 31, 2005. Sales from postal and online subscriptions rose 38% to £23.9m. Separately, interactive sales via the internet, the Sky interactive service and Play by Text on mobile phones were up more than 600% to £87.5m. In Scotland it is estimated that 70% of adults play weekly and spend an average £2.66.The total number of winning National Lottery tickets rose by around 12% on last year to 257 million. The main Lotto game saw a 0.4% rise in ticket sales compared to a 4% drop last year.Dianne Thompson, Camelot chief executive, said she would be staying on to see the operator bid for its third licence. "I can't think of anybody who is better placed at having a go at the third bid than Camelot." She said it was "one of the most efficient lotteries in the world".In the coming year Camelot plans to roll out its National Lottery Fast Pay across the country.
The system is being piloted in 10 Tesco stores, where players can buy their tickets at the checkouts. The operator also wants to offer a new Lotto HotPicks game which would enable players to win by picking just one number. This is subject to approval by the Lottery regulator.A £130,000 prize for picking and matching five numbers in the main Lotto draw is due to launch this year. More themed scratchcards will be launched following last year's Star Wars and Scrabble cards.Ms Thompson added: "The rise in ticket sales had provided a 4.6% increase in returns to good causes."THE public has rekindled its love affair with the National Lottery by spending an extra £150m a year on tickets.The increase, which saw sales soar to £4.7bn, was the result of a booming interactive market, and growth in retail sales and Lotto games.On the back of the figures, the second year running they have risen, Camelot, the operator, announced it is to bid for its third lottery licence. Its current licence ends in January 2009.This year's 3.3% total sales increase follows last year's 1% growth which was the first rise in six years. Camelot said its strategy of extending ticket distribution channels and diversifying the choice of games was behind the rise.Retail sales grew by £69.7m in the year to March 31, 2005. Sales from postal and online subscriptions rose 38% to £23.9m. Separately, interactive sales via the internet, the Sky interactive service and Play by Text on mobile phones were up more than 600% to £87.5m. In Scotland it is estimated that 70% of adults play weekly and spend an average £2.66.The total number of winning National Lottery tickets rose by around 12% on last year to 257 million.
The main Lotto game saw a 0.4% rise in ticket sales compared to a 4% drop last year.Dianne Thompson, Camelot chief executive, said she would be staying on to see the operator bid for its third licence. "I can't think of anybody who is better placed at having a go at the third bid than Camelot." She said it was "one of the most efficient lotteries in the world".In the coming year Camelot plans to roll out its National Lottery Fast Pay across the country. The system is being piloted in 10 Tesco stores, where players can buy their tickets at the checkouts. The operator also wants to offer a new Lotto HotPicks game which would enable players to win by picking just one number.
This is subject to approval by the Lottery regulator.A £130,000 prize for picking and matching five numbers in the main Lotto draw is due to launch this year. More themed scratchcards will be launched following last year's Star Wars and Scrabble cards.Ms Thompson added: "The rise in ticket sales had provided a 4.6% increase in returns to good causes."THE public has rekindled its love affair with the National Lottery by spending an extra £150m a year on tickets.The increase, which saw sales soar to £4.7bn, was the result of a booming interactive market, and growth in retail sales and Lotto games.On the back of the figures, the second year running they have risen, Camelot, the operator, announced it is to bid for its third lottery licence. Its current licence ends in January 2009.This year's 3.3% total sales increase follows last year's 1% growth which was the first rise in six years. Camelot said its strategy of extending ticket distribution channels and diversifying the choice of games was behind the rise.Retail sales grew by £69.7m in the year to March 31, 2005. Sales from postal and online subscriptions rose 38% to £23.9m. Separately, interactive sales via the internet, the Sky interactive service and Play by Text on mobile phones were up more than 600% to £87.5m. In Scotland it is estimated that 70% of adults play weekly and spend an average £2.66.The total number of winning National Lottery tickets rose by around 12% on last year to 257 million.
The main Lotto game saw a 0.4% rise in ticket sales compared to a 4% drop last year.Dianne Thompson, Camelot chief executive, said she would be staying on to see the operator bid for its third licence. "I can't think of anybody who is better placed at having a go at the third bid than Camelot." She said it was "one of the most efficient lotteries in the world".In the coming year Camelot plans to roll out its National Lottery Fast Pay across the country. The system is being piloted in 10 Tesco stores, where players can buy their tickets at the checkouts. The operator also wants to offer a new Lotto HotPicks game which would enable players to win by picking just one number. This is subject to approval by the Lottery regulator.A £130,000 prize for picking and matching five numbers in the main Lotto draw is due to launch this year. More themed scratchcards will be launched following last year's Star Wars and Scrabble cards.Ms Thompson added: "The rise in ticket sales had provided a 4.6% increase in returns to good causes."
2005-05-12
