Are you one of the many millions that play the various charity lotteries every year. Then you should pat yourself on the back for the hundreds of millions of pounds that you’ve helped raise for a good cause.

According to the Gambling Commission over £296 million was raised for good causes a rise of £40 from last year’s figures.
Welcoming the record year of fundraising, Lotteries Council Chair, Tony Vick, praised players of charity lotteries for helping raise a record amount and said that the growth in good causes funding across both charity lotteries and the National Lottery was a “win-win” for the country.

Vick said: “This has been a great year of charity fundraising by charity lotteries, with charities across the country benefitting as a result. Our thanks go to charity lottery players across Britain who have helped the sector make a record amount for good causes.”

“The charity lottery sector has a huge amount of fundraising talent within it – both staff and volunteers – and charities such as hospices, air ambulances, community groups and sports teams benefit as a result. Given the tough charity fundraising climate this growth in income is very welcome.”

“We also welcome that both charity lottery funding and National Lottery funding is on a growth trajectory, which is a win-win for the country and makes clear that both types of lottery can grow together.”

So what has happened to all money raised through the National Lottery?

It seems 95% goes back to winners and society (much we presume to good causes), 4% is spent on operational costs and around 1% is kept in profits.

To date, National Lottery players have helped to raise over £39 billion for Good Causes, with more than 535,000 individual awards made across the UK – the equivalent of around 190 lottery grants in every UK postcode district.

This is how the figures breakdown. A year in numbers.

From total ticket sales of £6,951.7 million in the year ending 31 March 2018:
£1,655.3 million was raised for National Lottery projects
£3,928.4 million was paid to players in prizes
£834.2 million went to the Government in Lottery Duty
£293.9 million was earned by retailers in commission

And as to where the National Lottery funding goes, well this the stats show:
Health, education, environment and charitable causes – 40%
Sport – 20%
Arts – 20%
Heritage – 20%

The Big Lottery Fund funds projects and activities that make communities stronger and more vibrant, and that are led by the people who live in them.
They support charities, community groups, and people with great ideas – local or national, large or small. They also bring people and groups together: to share experiences, learn from each other and try new ways of working.

To find out how to apply for funding visit: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding