Saxony's state lottery company wants to respond to the shifts in the gambling market with new game offerings. "As a lottery and, in particular, as a state gambling provider, we are operating in very turbulent times," said Lotto Managing Director Frank Schwarz. New virtual gambling offers were increasingly competing with traditional lotteries. Sachsenlotto therefore wants to expand its range of scratch-card products this year.
The lottery company can nevertheless look back on the most successful year in its history, said Schwarz. Players wagered €334 million last year - an increase of 0.7 percent compared to 2022. Six players became millionaires, and six-figure winnings were achieved a further 29 times.
The most popular game is still the classic "6 out of 49" lottery, which contributed just over half of sales at €173.7 million. However, the share fell by 2.2 percent compared to the previous year. The average player of the traditional lottery is 59 years old, it said.
In contrast, the players of the Eurojackpot are significantly younger at 51 years old. This lottery saw a 9.4 percent increase in stakes to 63.9 million euros. Scratch cards, which promise instant winnings, are also becoming increasingly popular in Saxony. The stakes here amounted to 35.3 million euros - an increase of 5.2 percent. At 40 to 50 years of age, the buyers of scratch cards are comparatively young customers.
At 74 percent, Sachsenlotto still generates around three quarters of its turnover in the approximately 1,200 sales outlets in the state. The rest is online business, although commercial game brokers such as Lotto24 or Tipp24 are also involved.
The Free State of Saxony also profited from the lottery again last year. The state took in 121 million euros, 62 million of which was net income and 59 million euros from the lottery tax. The money is used to support the common good - lottery funds flow into popular sports, welfare and municipal music schools, among other things.
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