The German State Lottery Association (DLTB) declared that lottery sales in Germany rose in 2020 compared to the previous year, generating €3.1 billion (US$3.82 billion) in taxes for state administrations.
Germans bet a total of €7.9 billion on lottery tickets in all 16 states on December 31, 2020, an 8.2% increase from €7.3 billion in 2019.
“The 16 German state lottery companies demonstrated their toughness and dependability during the [COVID-19] pandemic in 2020,” said Jürgen Häfner, present DLTB president and managing director of the Rhineland-Palatinate Lottery.
“This favorable annual outcome shows that our gambling products remain sought-after by participants, even though many sales outlets were forced to close temporarily during the pandemic.”
“Many customers made up for these closures by purchasing multi-week lottery tickets and using our online services.”
As usual, the most popular game was Lotto 6aus49, with sales of €3.98 billion, surpassing €3.5 billion in 2019 and accounting for over half of all lottery wagers. Häfner stated this was due to an increase in prize money, which led to a slight price hike for lottery tickets to €1.20 from September 23 onwards.
The Eurojackpot lottery, a well-liked game across Europe, had a successful year, with ticket sales increasing by over 18% to €1.47 billion. This marked a significant improvement after a sluggish 2019. Häfner attributed this growth to several extended periods where the top prize continued to rise, exceeding €90 million.
More individuals purchased tickets online as well. Online sales climbed by 40.2% to €913 million, representing 11.6% of all lottery sales. This is likely due to the closure of numerous retail outlets.
People also visited Lotto.de, the DLTB’s website, more frequently.
Germany’s gambling regulations are undergoing changes in 2021. The new legislation, known as Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag (GlüNeuRStV), takes effect in July. This opens up the market for online casinos and sports betting, which the DLTB has previously opposed. However, Häfner expresses satisfaction with the new law.
He stated, “We believe the new rules will benefit the German lottery monopoly, which is advantageous for all. We also hope it will curb illegal online gambling.”
The DLTB will continue to offer gambling in a “moderate” manner, enabling it to continue raising funds for worthy causes throughout Germany.
In 2020, DLTB members generated €3.1 billion for state governments, representing a 6.9% increase compared to the previous year. This equates to approximately €8.6 million daily for charitable purposes.
During the year 2020, more than 145 individuals claimed prizes exceeding €1 million.
“These financial resources are essential for the common good within our nation. Without them, numerous initiatives in the domains of social well-being, athletics, and the arts, along with historical site preservation and ecological conservation, would be unattainable across all federal entities,” stated Hafner.
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