Allwyn UK has responded to a set of Q3 results released by the Gambling Commission – the data showed that National Lottery contributions to good causes had declined to their lowest quarterly level since Q3 2023.
Between October and December, the National Lottery contributed £410.8m ($559.2m) to good causes, a quarterly decline of £50.1m (10.9%) – it is also a 5.7% year-on-year decrease.
A spokesperson for the company told Global Gaming Insider: “The Gambling Commission's report reports all cash paid to the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) and isn’t just Good Causes from operational sales, as it includes non-operational funds such as unclaimed prizes, one-off reserve movements and interest payments to NLDF – these are not equally phased over the year or quarters equally. And therefore, you cannot derive operational Allwyn sales or good causes performance from this data.”
According to Allwyn, the operator of the National Lottery since February 2024, returns to good causes excluding those non-operational funds are up by £60m year-on-year, a number that would paint a more positive picture of how the company is getting on operationally transforming the National Lottery.
Though unable to disclose final numbers for the full year, Global Gaming Insider understands that the 2025 figures for returns to good causes from operational activities are ahead of the prior year by more than 3%.
This growth is attributed to the “new marketing initiatives, promotions and game innovations – combined with EuroMillions rolls.”
The company has restated its confidence that it will achieve its stated target of doubling the amount raised for good causes from around £30m a week to £60m a week by the end of its first licence in 2034.
The Gambling Commission Q3 report included some sales figures, with a dip in scratchcard and EuroMillions sales detailed.
Total National Lottery sales in Q3 had declined £39m (2%) compared to Q2, including a £72.1m quarterly shrinking of EuroMillions sales.
The Allwyn spokesperson shared some exclusive figures not featured in the Gambling Commission’s report, saying: “It is difficult to compare individual quarters for a jackpot-based business. Specifically with regards to EuroMillions there are obviously differences on a quarter-by-quarter depending on jackpot size and volatility. However, on a full year basis we are more than 15% up on last year and we have out-performed all the other member states of the EuroMillions community, with the highest ever EuroMillions sales in 2025.”
In a separate public announcement, Allwyn UK has launched its A New Way to Play report, identifying some pertinent consumer behavioural trends.
The report suggested that ‘social gaming’ is now the preferred way to socialise for 43% of Brits, with an even stronger correlation found among young people.
Allwyn CEO Andria Vidler commented on the findings: “As we continue to transform The National Lottery, we must ensure our games continue bringing players together – whether through play itself or the impact of Good Causes in local communities.”
Allwyn UK has shared that it achieved the best ever sales figure of £550m from a ‘single roll series,’ a success that itself generated £190m for good causes
