Lotto slump blamed on Jubilee

Sales are down despite a £15m World Cup special

Lotto operator Camelot has blamed a recent slump in sales on the Queen Mother's funeral, the Golden Jubilee and the World Cup.

Chief executive Dianne Thompson said a series of events during weekends had been keeping players away.

Ticket sales were down on the day of England's second round 3-0 defeat of Denmark two weeks ago, and over the two Bank Holiday days of the Golden Jubilee at the beginning of June, Ms Thompson told a committee of MPs.

'Doing a 'Ratner'

The downturn began "sadly" with the Queen Mother's funeral in April, she said.

Dianne Thompson: "It probably won't be you"

The main National Lottery game was given its new name, Lotto, two months ago, after a £26m relaunch.

Camelot is spending £72m on marketing over the year.

Giving evidence to the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, Ms Thompson clarified remarks made last month, in which she said players would be "lucky" to win money on the main game. They had been taken out of context, she said.

Frank Doran, Labour MP for Aberdeen Central, told Ms Thompson she had been "effectively accused of doing a Ratner" to the National Lottery.

Ms Thompson said the odds of winning the jackpot were 14 million to one.

She added there was a one in 54 chance of winning any prize, one in 57 of winning £10 and one in 19 for winning a prize on the Thunderball draw.

'Live a Lotto'

She said she had made the remarks during a marketing lecture on why Camelot had replaced its slogan "It Could Be You" because "what is happening over time is players fed back to us 'well, yes, it probably won't be me'."

It was necessary to change the slogan to "Maybe, Just Maybe" and later to "Don't Live a Little, Live a Lotto", Ms Thompson told the committee.

Players were saying they had never won a prize because they did not regard £10 as a win, Ms Thompson said.

Asked whether her remarks had had any impact on sales, she told MPs: "It is hard to tell. I don't think so. The problem with the National Lottery is that you cannot judge it week on week."