Lotterywest lifts sales to $855m

Lotterywest has increased its total community grants after achieving a 3.4 per cent lift in sales to $855 million in 2017-18, a notable turnaround from the prior year when it failed to meet its budget.

Chief executive Susan Hunt said this year’s results marked a significant improvement.

“Thanks to the continued support of our players, Lotterywest ended the financial year achieving sales of $855 million - significantly up on last year,” she said.

“We’re extremely fortunate in Western Australia to have the only lottery in the nation, and one of the few in the world, that is state government-owned, where the profits raised go directly back to the community.”

The increase in sales in 2017-18 compared with a 7 per cent fall in the prior year to $827 million.

Notably, that total was 10 per cent below Lotterywest's budgeted sales.

The weak outcome in 2016-17 was attributed to several factors, including a fall in jackpots, subdued economic conditions and increased competition from the rise of online sports betting and synthetic lottery providers.

As well as sales, Lotterywest earns revenue from government grants, interest and other sources - adding these together, it had total revenue of $885 million in 2016-17.

A comparable figure for 2017-18 has not yet been released. 

The government agency paid out $463 million in gaming prizes in 2017-18 while $260 million went back to the community via grants, up 2.5 per cent.

Lotterywest approved 785 grants to 699 not-for-profit organisations and local governments in 2017-18.

In addition, hospitals received $125 million while sport and recreation organisations were given $15.5 million and culture and the arts benefited from $15.5 million worth of grants.

Lotterywest grants in the past year ranged from $1,000 to the Busselton Naturalists’ Club to help protect bushland to $7.5 million to each the Perth Festival and Screenwest.

Another large grant of $4.8 million went to Rocky Bay for the redevelopment of community aspects of a disability services centre.

“This grant helps integration of services and creates greater collaboration across health, social, education and disability groups in Western Australia,” Ms Hunt said.