Lottery Prize Split: Retail vs Online Revealed
UKGC data shows a near-even distribution of over £4.5 billion in National Lottery winnings between retail and digital players.
New data from the Gambling Commission reveals a near 50/50 split in National Lottery prize money between retail and online players for the year ending September 2025. The disclosure, which details over £4.58 billion in total winnings, addresses consumer concerns about potential disadvantages for digital players.
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A Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure from the Gambling Commission (UKGC) has provided a detailed breakdown of National Lottery prize money, revealing a near-even split between winnings from retail and online play.
The data, released in response to a public request dated 26 September 2025, addresses consumer concerns about whether online players are at a disadvantage. The figures cover a one-year period from 29 September 2024 to 27 September 2025.
Over £4.58 Billion in Prizes
According to the UKGC, a total of £4,586,975,331 was paid out in prizes by National Lottery operator Allwyn during the specified year. The distribution between the two main channels was remarkably close:
- Retail Winnings: £2,329,522,152
- Digital Winnings: £2,257,453,179
Retail prizes, which include winnings from draw-based games and scratchcards purchased in shops, accounted for approximately 50.8% of the total. Digital prizes, covering draw-based games and instant win games played online, made up the remaining 49.2%.
This data suggests that while slightly more prize money was won via traditional retail outlets, the distribution is largely balanced. The figures provide transparency and may help to alleviate public suspicion that one channel is favoured over the other.
Context of the Request
The FOI request was prompted by a consumer's suspicion that "those playing online are at a disadvantage to the benefit of Allwyn." While the data does not include information on the total amount wagered through each channel—which would be needed for a full analysis of return-to-player percentages—it does confirm that substantial prizes are won by players both online and in-store.
The request also sought information on who audits and enforces compliance for the National Lottery operator.
Regulatory and Audit Information
In its response, the Gambling Commission invoked a Section 21 exemption under the Freedom of Information Act. This exemption applies when the requested information is already reasonably accessible to the public elsewhere.
The UKGC directed the requester to two sources:
- Audits: Information regarding the auditing of Allwyn can be found in the company's Annual Report & Financial Statements, which are published on its corporate website.
- Regulation and Enforcement: The Gambling Commission's own website contains detailed information on how it regulates the National Lottery and enforces compliance with its licence conditions.
This part of the response clarifies the oversight structure for consumers: Allwyn is responsible for its own financial reporting and audits, while the UKGC acts as the primary regulator, enforcing the rules of the operating licence.