With just 10 days to go before the winning numbers are drawn in the Channel Islands Christmas Lottery, the jackpot has climbed over £360,000.
The organisers say that is on a par with where the prize pot was at this time last year and they expect the final total to be closer to half a million pounds by the time the winning numbers are chosen.
“Sales are beginning to pick up as we close in on draw day Thursday 18 December,” said Jon Taylor, Presiding Officer for the Channel Islands Lottery Draw.
“We are currently on a par with last year so confident first prize will get close to the £450k+ mark.”
Syndicates have done well in recent years, with a Jersey group winning the top prize of £483,795 in 2024, and 40 Guernsey women sharing £500,000 in 2023.
The winning ticket was sold in Guernsey each year between 2018 and 2022, with a mixture of individuals and syndicates winning.
Head of Sales for distribution agents Fox Trading, Paul Bates said the recent success of groups has seen syndicate sales increase on last year.
“We now have a dedicated ordering and delivery system online at cilottery.org to allow those organisations, clubs and friends or family groups to purchases blocks of tickets,” he said.
All the proceeds raised through both the Christmas Extravaganza game and traditional draw game are distributed to worthy causes throughout the Channel Islands by the Social Investment Fund in Guernsey and jointly between the Jersey Community Foundation, Association of Jersey Charities and Jersey Sport in Jersey.
In 2024 £2.7 million was raised to support charities and good causes.
The Lottery draw takes place in Jersey on Thursday 18 December.
The total at the end of last week was £358,000 with the jackpot rising with every ticket sold.