Lotterywest community boost

Lotterywest has announced $732 million in returns to the Western Australian community, off the back of stronger than expected sales.

Sales totalled $959 million over 2019-20, with WA players sharing $439 million worth of lottery prizes while $292 million was allocated in grants to help the local community.

That includes 69 Division One Lotto winners and 67 Scratch’n’Win top prize winners, representing a 30 per cent increase on the previous financial year, acting chief executive Jeremy Hubble said.

He said the year had represented challenges for the WA community.

“For the wider community, it’s been a challenging time with COVID-19 impacting many people and businesses,” Mr Hubble said.

“With the support of the Premier and the state government, Lotterywest was able to swiftly respond to help players, retailers and community groups by reprioritising resources and providing greater flexibility.”

Lotterywest had redirected all available profit on ticket sales towards the state government’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, which had provided 369 grants worth $38 million in FY20.

More grants are to come, Lotterywest says.

It had also provided 818 direct grants to the WA community during FY20, totalling more than $118 million.

Mr Hubble said a further 449 not-for-profit community organisations and local government authorities were also supported, with more than $81 million in direct grants.

That includes a $3,523 grant to the South West Women’s Health and Information to support post-natal well-being, and $1.2 million to FORM to support a cultural art space in South Hedland.

Mr Hubble thanked Western Australians who had purchased a Lotterywest ticket during FY20, and to more than 500 Lotterywest small business operators.