State-owned Lotterywest generated more than $1.4 billion in revenue last financial year, with sales up 13.4 per cent and $373 million worth of grants and allocations signed off.
State-owned Lotterywest generated more than $1.4 billion in revenue last financial year, with sales up 13.4 per cent and $373 million worth of grants and allocations signed off.
The lottery body’s financials were tabled in its annual report to parliament today, revealing a bumper year for the organisation in which it dished out $635.9 million in prize money and reported a $101 million profit.
The period marked the fourth consecutive sales record for Lotterywest, and was attributed to a number of jackpots including a $200 million Powerball draw in February and a $90 million OZ Lotto draw in December last year.
As a result, sales revenue was $352.8 million higher than forecast.
Spend on Powerball tickets rose substantially in Western Australia last financial year, up more than $100 million year-on-year to $494.3 million.
Despite that just one Powerball division one winner was reported over the 12-month period, taking home $4 million in prizemoney.
A total 37 Western Australians won Saturday Lotto division one for a shared $66.8 million, while one OZ Lotto winner took home $20 million.
On the giving front the body gave $125 million worth of grants to 411 recipients, and $248 million of statutory funding to WA health, arts and sports groups.
A total of 486 grant applications were received, with 96 per cent of these approved.
The Kimberley and Great Southern regions were the major beneficiaries of regionally focused discretionary grants, taking in $18.3 million each, while organisations in the Perth region was granted $32 million.
Grants to organisations in the Peel region came lowest at $691,434, while $49.8 million was granted to recipients with statewide footprint.
Screenwest and Perth Festival were given $9.2 million and $8 million, respectively.
Lotterywest also spent more than $6 million on advertising with agency 303 Mullenlowe.
The organisation made a profit of $42.9 million after its expenses – including grant distribution – and before income from the state government.
Including grants from the state government of $58.8 million – $55.9 million of which was reimbursement for GST payments – its profit sat above $101 million, up from $62.2 million the previous financial year.
Lotterywest, which is the only body of its kind in Australia a mandate to share all available profit back into the community, ended the year with $20 million worth of cash and cash equivalents, and an equity position of $326 million.
