South Africans spent more than R3,7-billion on lottery tickets in the 2002/2003 financial year, says Trade and Industry Minister Alec Erwin.
In written reply to a question in the National Assembly, Erwin said R735-million had been allocated to worthy causes during the same period.
He said R286-million of this money had actually been disbursed.
Ticket sales in 1999/2000 were R88-million, in 2000/2001 R2,7-billion, and in 2001/2002 sales stood at R3,4-billion.
Prize money for 2002/2003 stood at R1,8-billion as opposed to R39-million in the lottery’s first year of operation in 1999/2000. In 2001/2002 it stood at R1,7-billion.
The administration costs, including salaries, of the lottery operator, Uthingo were R640-million for 2002/2003 and R647-million in 2001/2002.
The national lottery came under the spotlight almost a year ago when it was revealed that charities had so far received only three cents out of every rand that South Africans spent on tickets. – Sapa