Although lottery draws are widely perceived as supporting good causes, players are more likely to be motivated by a specific cause when entering prize draws. Major prize draws typically benefit…
UK
Gambling
simple
UK Lotteries Market Report 2026
"Lottery operators can drive participation through focused and compelling messaging about specific, familiar charities, while also targeting 25-34 year olds with innovative new games."
Although lottery draws are widely perceived as supporting good causes, players are more likely to be motivated by a specific cause when entering prize draws. Major prize draws typically benefit a single, high-profile charity, providing a clearer and more compelling message than lottery draws that support multiple causes. Lottery operators can address this by focusing their messaging on specific, well-known charities that are likely to resonate with individuals and motivate play.
Prize draw participants who also play the lottery continue to spend the same amount or more on lottery games, indicating that prize draws have not yet cannibalised lottery spend. However, acquisitions and new entrants in the UK prize draw market signal strong future growth, which could increasingly threaten the lottery market and potentially alter player behaviour. To remain competitive, lottery operators should focus on game innovation that integrates prize draw concepts.
Young adults aged 25-34 show high engagement in lottery play, actively participating in various types of lottery games, making them a prime audience for new game innovations. Their use of multiple purchasing channels, including a rise in mobile app purchases, creates opportunities to introduce innovative games both online and through interactive in-store experiences.
This report looks at the following areas:
Overview of lottery games and prize draw preferences, including growth opportunities among 25-34 year olds
Lottery draw and scratchcard purchase channels
Prize draw participation, its impact on consumer spending on lotteries and threat to the lottery market
Motivations for playing lottery games and prize draws, including strategies to encourage lottery participation
Perceptions of lottery draws versus prize draws, with a focus on how lottery draws can shift player perceptions and boost engagement
Market Definitions
This Report covers all the products offered by the National Lottery, the Health Lottery and other society, charity and local lotteries. Only the National Lottery and lotteries regulated by the Gambling Commission fall within the scope of this Report, although other lottery-type games are considered where they impact directly on the market.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for the lottery market
Opportunities
Make supporting causes the spark that drives lottery play
Capitalise on the prize draw concept
Target 25-34 year olds through gaming innovation
THE MARKET
Snapshot – market size and forecast
Despite inflationary pressure, hope drives lottery play
Competitive charity sector, making lottery funding vital
Graph 1: number of charities in England and Wales, 2013-25
Prize draws pose a threat to the lottery market
Graph 2: Omaze revenue, profit and charitable donations, 2023-24
Voluntary Code of Good Practice for Prize Draw Operators will protect players
Increase in Remote Gaming Duty and General Betting Duty may benefit lottery market
Market size and forecast
Spend on lottery games set to grow steadily
Graph 3: forecasted consumer expenditure on lottery games, 2019/20-2030/31*
Digital channels generate nearly half of National Lottery sales
Graph 4: National Lottery sales, by channel, 2020/21-2024/25*
National Lottery dominates but continues to steadily lose market share
Graph 5: operator share of lottery sales, 2020/21-2024/25*
THE CONSUMER
Lottery play and draw games preferences
Three quarters of UK adults play lottery games or enter prize draws
Most people play one type of game
Graph 6: number of lottery games played in the last 12 months, 2025
Graph 7: number of lottery games played in the last 12 months, by type of lottery game, 2025
Lottery draws remain the most played
Charity-focused marketing and game innovation will appeal to 25-34 year olds
Graph 8: lottery games and prize draw participation, by age group, 2025
Lottery draw and scratchcard purchase channels
In‑app lottery and scratchcard purchases are growing
An omnichannel approach is vital to capture all audiences
Graph 9: lottery draw and scratchcard purchase channels, by age group, 2025
Prize draw play and spend
Prize draws have opportunity to expand the prize portfolio
Graph 10: prize draw games participation, 2025
Consumer spend is shifting towards aspirational prize draws
Graph 11: average spend per transaction among SpendMapper cohort on the National Lottery and Omaze, 2024-25
Prize draw participants show minimal spend reduction in lottery play
Continue to leverage prize draw concept to help lottery market rival the growing prize draw sector
Graph 12: customer and transaction growth among SpendMapper cohort for the National Lottery and Omaze, 2025-26*
Motivations in play
Cash prize, luck and habit are key play motivators
Player motivations differ according to game type
Graph 13: lottery games and prize draw play motivations, by type of lottery game played, 2025
Lottery draws benefit from play loyalty
Unlock play through luck, small wins and adverts
Lottery draw and prize draw perceptions
Lottery draws are seen as simple to play, offering substantial prizes and supporting worthy causes
Graph 14: lottery draws vs prize draws perceptions, 2025
Attract players by highlighting simplicity and aspirational wins
The charitable aspect of prize draws boosts player motivation more than for lottery draw play
Focus messaging around specific charities to promote lottery draw play
Graph 15: lottery draw perception ‘supports good causes’, by age group, 2025
Build on trust for lottery draws
INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Lottery adspend steps back in 2025
People’s Postcode Lottery boosts brand awareness through TV quiz
Allwyn brings the National Lottery into the modern era
EuroMillions uses AI-powered lens to redefine digital player engagement
New entrants and acquisitions signal prize draw market growth
Promoting lottery play through familiarity and fun
APPENDIX
Advertising expenditure in the lottery market, by media type
Advertising expenditure in the lottery market, by top 10 operators
Market definition
The market
Forecast methodology
Forecast methodology – fan chart
Consumer spend and forecast on lottery games
Market forecast and prediction intervals
Market share
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Repertoire analysis methodology
UK generation groups
Other data source methodologies
Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
Snoop SpendMapper methodology
Abbreviations
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