The National Lottery generated a surplus of £125.5 million (€159 million) for good causes last year, a 13 per cent increase on 1998, while £195 million was returned to players in prizes.
A record 30 new Lotto millionaires were created, including the lucky winner who scooped the year's largest individual jackpot of £3.6 million. This brings the total number of people who have become Lotto millionaires to 131.
Since its inception in 1987, the Lottery has also raised more than £1 billion for distribution by the Government. Last year, some £46 million was allocated to youth, sport, recreation and amenities; £46.9 million was spent on health and welfare; £23.8 million went to arts, culture and national heritage, while £4.1 million was spent on the Irish language.
Among the organisations which benefited from Lottery funding were Birdwatch Ireland, the Irish Modern Dance Theatre, the Bailieboro Swimming and Leisure Centre in Co Cavan and Gaillimh le Gaeilge which was established to encourage the business community in Galway to increase the use of the Irish language on public signs, stationery and oral communication with customers.
Lottery funding of voluntary bodies was increased, while funds previously allocated to a number of state bodies were replaced with Exchequer funding.
The Lottery's annual results show that sales rose by 12 per cent to £377 million last year with Lotto sales, up 15 per cent at £252 million, accounting for nearly two-thirds of business. Lotto 5-4-3-2-1 sales rose by nearly 7 per cent to £9.5 million, instant game sales were up 2.4 per cent at £111 million while TellyBingo, which was introduced last September, contributed sales of £4.9 million.
The company also noted that its costs fell to their lowest level ever, accounting for 15 per cent of sales at £57 million compared to 15.3 per cent in 1998. A sharp reduction in telecom costs stripped between £700,000 and £800,000 off the Lottery's cost base.
"We couldn't wish for a better base from which to grow and pitch for the new licence," Mr John Hynes, chairman of An Post National Lottery, said.
An Post's licence to run the National Lottery runs out in March next year and the company faces competition from two other companies, Autotote Worldwide and Sisal, for the new licence.
"Without taking anything for granted, we believe our track record will be a strong argument for our reappointment as the licencee to operate the National Lottery," Mr Hynes said.
The Lottery also said it was working on developing an Internet offering and intended to bring an Internet channel to the market this summer.
