15/05/2006

Camelot reports 5% increase in lottery ticket sales

National Lottery operator Camelot has reported a 5% rise in sales of lottery tickets, taking sales to more than £5 billion.

Players spent £5,012.8 million on all lottery games in the 12 months to March 31.

Camelot said that the £256.7 million year-on-year increase was partly due to the creation of new games.

The 5.2% increase follows a 3.3% rise in the year to March 31 last year.

The previous year to March 2004 saw a 1% rise in lottery sales, which was the first upturn in six years.

Camelot is now set to launch a World Cup-themed game among a new series of scratchcard and on-line instant games, which are also set to be launched later this year.

The new games will also include Dream Number, a draw-based game in support of London's 2012 Olympics, which will replace Lotto Extra.

The latest sales figures will be Camelot's last before the entry deadline for bids for the next license to run the National Lottery.

Camelot has said that it will bid for the next license if the market conditions are right.

(KMcA)

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