2026
9
UK Lotteries Market Report 2026
2026-02-10T20:01:35+00:00
REPF859355F_412D_4FDD_9935_5F412D5FDDC4
2195
191053
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Report
en_GB
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."

Yogita Burke, Cross-category Research Analyst

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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  1. 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
  2. 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*
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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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