A NEW study has rejected claims by the National Lottery that fixed odds betting on the Lotto draw is affecting its sales. The lottery would gain little extra revenue if fixed odds betting in bookmakers - known as Lucky Numbers - was withdrawn, according to Ms Caitriona Purfield and Mr Patrick Waldron, of Trinity College Dublin.
The study finds the two forms of betting complement, with Lucky Numbers bets increasing at times when the Lotto jackpot is rolled over. The Lucky Numbers market is worth £25 million a year in Ireland.
The researchers claim 63 per cent of lottery money is spent by Government Departments, semi state bodies and local authorities in spite of promises the money would not be used for general government purposes. "In this respect," they say, "revenue raised by the National Lottery for so called good causes' is little different to that raised from betting duty, which is paid to the general Exchequer."
