Channel Islands Lottery survey launched to help shape 2020 Christmas draw.
The operators of the Channel Islands Lottery are keen to find out islanders’ views ahead of the next big Christmas draw. A survey has been launched across the Channel Islands to gain public feedback before deciding on the format of this December’s bumper charity draw.
It comes on the back of falling sales in recent years, which the organisers are looking to address in what is the 45th anniversary year of the Lottery.
Jon Taylor, Senior Lottery Officer, said that while sales may have fallen, the Christmas draw remained “immensely popular”. Across the Channel Islands, more than a million tickets were sold in 2019.
However despite the largest pool of prizes ever and a guaranteed jackpot of £1million, sales were around 10% down on 2018.
Mr Taylor said the other big winners are local charities, who receive the proceeds from the Christmas Draw in each Bailiwick. Since 2015, dozens of worthy causes in Guernsey and Alderney have received a share of more than £1 million.
“The proceeds from scratchcard sales throughout the year also help fund community initiatives, but the Christmas charity draw has always been “the jewel in the crown”. The money raised through the Channel Islands Lottery is reinvested in the community, for instance helping to fund Beau Sejour and the 2021 Island Games in Guernsey. The Christmas draw is a little different, in that the local proceeds of that draw go directly to the Association of Guernsey Charities, who then allocate this among their membership.
“The Christmas draw remains immensely popular and it is still the jewel in the crown. We are keen to address the fall in sales because the charity element has always been a major part of the lottery, and there are a lot of good causes in the islands that benefit. So we want to find out what islanders think of it and how it can perhaps be improved to help boost the amount we raise.”
“Keeping the Christmas Lottery relevant and attractive to islanders is paramount.”
A number of changes have been made to the format of the Christmas lottery in recent years, such as having larger prizes on the instant win element. For 2019, there was a guaranteed £1 million jackpot for the first time, along with more second and third prizes, to provide the largest pool for prizes ever.
The survey is part of a broad review which will also involve the charitable sector and distributers and resellers. In Guernsey, the lottery is overseen by the States’ Trading Supervisory Board.
Deputy Jeremy Smithies, Chair of the CI Lottery Sub Committee, said it was important for islanders to let their views be known.
“Even though sales have declined in recent years the Christmas Draw is still enormously popular and we want that to remain the case. This is a chance for islanders to let us know what format they would like it to have in the future, so I hope a lot of people take this opportunity to give us their feedback.”
The survey is available to complete online and throughout the Channel Islands.