Camelot marks Lottery anniversary with record half-year sales

Lotto operator Camelot celebrated the anniversary of its first draw today with results revealing record half-year sales.

The firm reported £2.7 billion in total sales for the six months to September 25, up 3.6% on a year earlier and marking the group's highest interim revenues.

Camelot, which made the first National Lottery draw on November 19, 1994, said sales of draw-based games rose 3.2%, while the launch of scratchcards and online instant win games such as the 3D game Monopoly helped instant play sales rise by 4.8%.

It said such efforts to broaden its appeal had helped to increase results against a declining global lottery market.

Dianne Thompson, chief executive of Camelot, said the group's "extremely" good start to the year came "in the face of a challenging economic climate and a worldwide trend of slowing lottery sales".

The interim results saw direct returns to good causes rise by £27.6 million year-on-year to £784.8 million.

Camelot has raised more than £25 billion for charity. It is helping fund the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, raising more than £550 million so far from sales of specially-designed games.

Camelot claims to have increased sales by 14% over the past five years as it has driven growth across retail and direct sales channels.

Web and subscription sales grew to £369.2 million in the half-year and Camelot said it runs the biggest online lottery in the world with more than five million registered players.

Camelot was taken over by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan in July in a deal worth £389 million.