The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, has published the first-ever National Lottery Good Causes Funding 2023.
In 2022, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform published an independent review of the Distribution and Utilisation of National Lottery Funding. The report put forward a number of recommendations encouraging greater transparency and acknowledgement of National Lottery support into the future. The importance of publicising Good Causes funding was highlighted.
National Lottery Good Causes Funding Report 2023 is the first annual report of its kind. The report highlights the link between National Lottery and funding for Good Causes across the country.
When the National Lottery was established in 1987, the primary objective was to put in place a safe, well-regulated State Lottery which the adult population could play in confidence. An important secondary benefit of such a regulated Lottery would be the generation of funds for Good Causes across the country.
Since the Lottery was established in 1987, it has raised over €6 billion for Good Causes. €227.9 million was raised for Good Causes in 2023. On average, around 1.2 million people a week played National Lottery games in 2023. Almost 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games went directly to Good Causes.
Good Causes funding, combined with Exchequer funding, supports on average over 4,500 charity and voluntary groups, sports bodies, arts and heritage organisations, youth and Irish Language projects. The government is responsible for allocating these funds across sectors.
Speaking on launch of the publication, Minister Donohoe said:
“I am very pleased to publish the first ever annual National Lottery Good Causes Report. This report brings to the public’s attention the important links between the National Lottery and funding for Good Causes across the country. An incredible €6 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established. This contributes substantially to the economic and social fabric of communities all over Ireland.”
The National Lottery Act, 2013, requires that prizes must, on average across the portfolio of National Lottery games, be at least 50 per cent annually. Furthermore, the licence itself requires that the amount allocated to Good Causes should be 65 per cent of the difference between sales income and the amount awarded as prizes.
The National Lottery Act, 2013 also established the Office of Regulator of the National Lottery. The Regulator ensures that players can trust that the games are strictly regulated to be fair and safe.
The sectoral allocation of Good Causes funding is provided for in Section 41 of the National Lottery Act for the following areas:
- health of the community
- natural environment
- national culture and heritage (including Irish language)
- sport and recreation
- the arts
- youth, welfare and amenities
National Lottery Act 2013
The National Lottery Act, 2013, was signed into law on 14 May 2013. The Act repealed the original National Lottery Act 1986 and provides a legislative basis for the operation of the National Lottery.
How the National Lottery is Regulated
The National Lottery Act, 2013, established the Office of Regulator of the National Lottery. The Regulator ensures that players can trust that the games are strictly regulated to be fair, safe, and provide 65 per cent of the proceeds after prizes to the Exchequer for distribution to Good Causes. The Regulator’s officials perform checks each week on the Operator’s allocation of sales revenue to prizes and Good Causes, game by game.
The current licence runs for a twenty-year term. The Office of Regulator is funded to regulate the National Lottery by a levy of €1.5 million per annum. The levy is indexed with the Consumer Price Index. The annual levy is paid for by PLI.
The Regulator has a statutorily defined role and shall, subject to the National Lottery Act 2013, be independent in the performance of his/her functions. The current Regulator is Carol Boate.
The Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery monitors and enforces compliance by Premier Lotteries Ireland DAC, the operator, with the National Lottery Act 2013 and with the terms and conditions of the Licence granted to it to operate the National Lottery.
The Office of Regulator of the National Lottery falls under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
How the National Lottery is run
Premier Lotteries Ireland DAC (PLI) is the current operator of the Irish National lottery. It was awarded a 20-year licence by the Irish Government in February 2014 and commenced operations in November 2014.
While PLI was sold to La Francaise des Jeux (FDJ) in 2023, the sale of the controlling interest in shares in the licenced operator is not a sale of the licence itself. Notwithstanding the change of ownership of PLI, the Irish National Lottery will continue to be operated by PLI.
How Good Causes are calculated
The Act requires that the total value of prizes must, on average across the portfolio of National Lottery games, amount to at least 50 per cent annually of the income generated in sales in each financial year. Furthermore, the licence itself requires that the amount allocated to Good Causes should be 65 per cent of the difference between sales income and the amount awarded as prizes.
Good Causes = (Sales – Prizes) x 65%
