Our Business National Lottery facts
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370,000 individual National Lottery grants have been made across the length and breadth of the UK.
Camelot’s role is critical to the lottery’s success but it is just one element in the partnership of organisations responsible for the differing functions of The National Lottery. They are:
- The Government, empowered by the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, which, through the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, appoints and directs:
- The National Lottery Commission, which, after a competition against an Invitation to Tender, awards the Licence to run The National Lottery and regulates:
- Camelot, the lottery operator, which raises money for:
- 13 lottery distribution bodies, which in turn decide which beneficiaries should receive Good Causes funding.
In May 1994 Camelot was awarded a seven-year Licence to run The National Lottery and on 14 November 1994, the first draw-based tickets went on sale.
In December 2000, Camelot was awarded the second seven-year Licence to run The National Lottery, which commenced on 27 January 2002 and expired on 31 January 2009.
Camelot's third National Lottery Licence began on 1 February 2009. It was initially due to run for 10 years but, following agreement from the NLC, the Licence has been extended for another four years - until 2023.
Where the money goes
During the third Licence period, over 50% of total National Lottery revenue is expected to be paid to winners in prizes, around 28% is expected to go to the Good Causes, while 12% is expected to be paid to the Government in Lottery Duty.
National Lottery retailers will earn 5% in sales commission for each draw-based game – and 6% commission on each Scratchcard (Camelot’s retailers earn on average £8,531 per annum in lottery commission).
Operating costs will be around 4% of total revenue, and depending on performance, total profits across the course of the Licence will range from 0.3% to a maximum of 0.5% of total revenue.
The Good Causes
The National Lottery distributors award the money raised by Camelot through lottery ticket sales to projects in sports, the arts, heritage, charities, voluntary organisations, health, education and the environment.
To date, more than 370,000 individual National Lottery grants have been made across the length and breadth of the UK – helping to transform the nation. This equates to an average of 119 awards in every single postcode district across the UK.
