Camelot, which is licensed to run the United Kingdom’s National Lottery for the large profits it has made in the last seven years.
Press reports last week showed that the company’s profits skyrocketed by 122 percent during that period, while its contributions to charity rose 2 percent.
A spokesman for Camelot commented, “During the license period, annual returns to good causes have been, on average, 30% higher than under the previous license… National Lottery players have raised £37 billion for good causes… an average of over 185 lottery grants in every community.”
A critic noted that “Raising money for good causes is one of the founding principles of the National Lottery… but this objective is under threat.”
During this period there has been a transition from the public’s interest in playing certain Lottery games. Draw games have declined in popularity and scratch games have soared in comparison. Draw games contribute 30 percent of the cost of the ticket to charity, which scratch games contribute about 10 percent.
Camelot says it is willing to work with various distributors to increase the amount donated to charity. It has not, however, said it was willing to increase the contribution made by scratch cards.
