Camelot UK Lotteries announced record sales for the first half of its 2022.23 fiscal year, topping the GBP4 billion ($4.84 billion) mark for the first time.

Camelot is the current operator of the National Lottery. The sales of GBP4.06 in the six months to end-September were 2.6 percent higher than the same period a year earlier. 

As a result, Camelot said it had returned GBP956.5 million to good causes, up 8.1 percent from the year earlier. Since the National Lottery launched under Camelot in 1994, the total generated for good causes has been GBP47 billion.

“Thanks to the commitment and professionalism of everyone at Camelot – and all of our hard work over the last few years – this record half-year performance confirms that we have a very healthy and successful National Lottery that continues to benefit the whole of the UK,” said CEO Nigel Railton said. “These fantastic results also demonstrate our ability to adapt quickly and decisively to fast-changing and challenging economic conditions, while maintaining our longstanding reputation for selling tickets in a socially responsible way – attributes that have helped to keep The National Lottery in excellent health at such an important time for the UK.”

Camelot said a key factor in success was the strong performance of draw-based games, with the EuroMillions performing particularly well.

Online sales were also a strong driver, gaining 13 percent to GBP1.83 billion, while within this segment mobile sales saw the biggest increase, rising 19 percent. 

Allwyn Entertainment recently confirmed it plans to buy whose license runs through until Jan. 31st. Terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed, but the transaction is expected to be completed in 1Q23. Allwyn had already won the license for the new lottery contract once the current one with Camelot expires.