NOT SUCH A LOTTO NOW

National Lottery operator Camelot has ordered a shake-up after draw-based ticket sales fell to an eightyear low.

Camelot’s new boss Nigel Railton has launched a review after the company warned this year could be “equally, if not more, challenging”.

Sales for all lottery games dropped nearly 9% to £6.9billion in the year to March.

But draw-based games – including Lotto and EuroMillions – tumbled by 15% to just over £4bn, the lowest since the 2008/09 financial year.

It came after the cost of playing EuroMillions was hiked by 25% to £2.50 a line in September, while the odds of a jackpot win worsened.

Camelot claimed Lotto sales were dented by a series of rollovers.

The drop in sales meant £273m less went to good causes last year.

The Treasury, which collects a 12% tax on ticket sales, still banked £831m, while Camelot’s share is expected to have fallen to below £70m.