Camelot gives £1.7bn to good causes

National Lottery operator Camelot today said it delivered £1.7 billion to good causes in the last financial year, after sales hit an all-time high.

Camelot, which runs games including Lotto and National Lottery scratchcards, reported sales across all channels of £5.8 billion in the year to March 31, beating the 1997/1998 record of £5.5 billion.

The record haul saw prize winners bag a combined total of £2.9 billion, while £1.7 billion went to a range of good causes, from arts projects to healthcare charities.

Camelot, which is owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, was awarded the National Lottery franchise in 1993 and sells tickets to 28,500 retailers across the UK.