Lotto NZ reports “highest sales in company history”

Sales for the year ending June 30 reached NZ$1.384bn (US$918.7m).

New Zealand.- Lotto NZ has reported its highest sales in its history for the year ending June 30.

Sales reached NZ$1.384 billion (US$918.7 million), up 18 per cent year-on-year, and the lottery transferred a record NZ$313m (US$207m) back to the community.  

The growth was driven by two high jackpot runs of NZ$38m (US$25.2m) and NZ$50m (US$33.2m).  

Most of the sales came during the first half of the financial year, while the second half was slower due to the closure of retail stores during the Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand. 

Sales of Lotto family games amounted to NZ$1.16bn (US$1.06bn), which was 84 per cent of all sales. Instant Kiwi in-store and online contributed NZ$166m (US$110m), and the daily games portfolio NZ$49m (US$32.5m). 

The executives said: “MyLotto sales increased significantly during the year with total sales online of NZ$431m (US$286m) in 2019/20. This is an 89 per cent increase in sales compared with the previous year.” 

Chairman Roger Sharp and chief executive Chris Lyman said the operator had seen “exceptional performance”.

They said consumer habits had shifted after the lockdown, when only online sales and customer support were available.

They said: “Many customers have since returned to primarily purchasing in retail, however, a larger portion now use a mix of both retail and MyLotto.

“As a result, MyLotto has grown from accounting for 19 per cent of sales in 2018/19 to 31 per cent of sales in 2019/20, with further growth predicted in 2020/21.” 

Instant Kiwi online games also grew 64 per cent in the 12-month period as consumers shifted to online play. The portfolio was expanded from 26 to 37 games.