Christmas lottery ticket sales down

Monday 16 December 2019

There are just a few days to go before the winning numbers are drawn in the 2019 Channel Islands Christmas Lottery, but ticket sales are said to be down on previous years.

Whoever wins first prize will still be walking away with a fortune, though, as the jackpot has been guaranteed at £1,000,000.

The draw is being held in Jersey on Thursday 19 December, with other prizes between £50,000 and £500 also available.

If ticket sales go over the 200,000 mark, more prizes of £1,000 will also be added.

Pictured: Proceeds from ticket sales will go to local charities.

In previous years, the top prize had started at the lower guaranteed starting point of £300,000, with regular announcements as the prize money grew, regularly going over the million pound mark.

This year, the organisers think the lack of updates may have impacted on sales.

But Senior Lottery Officer in Guernsey, Jon Taylor, said ticket sales are still expected to peak in this final week before the draw as usual.

“In the past, we had regular news updates as the top prize climbed, which we have not had this year because we started with a guaranteed million.  That probably impacted on the early sales because the Christmas Draw has not had such a high profile in the media, so ticket sales are slightly down on the same time last year.  However, as with previous years we have seen them pick up as the big day approaches, and we are set for a bumper final week.

“We’ve reached the 900,000 mark and if we get over 1.1 million ticket sales there will be able to add Secret Santa bonus prizes of £1,000 to the draw.” 

The draw also has a guaranteed second prize of £50,000, five prizes of £10,000, and 15 of £2,500.  Another 20 lucky ticket holders will win £1,000 each, with 25 scooping £500.  

Local charities will also benefit as usual, with all the proceeds from ticket sales going to good causes.