The National Lottery’s 30th birthday comes to Westminster - Celebrating £50 billion raised for Good Causes
11th Mehefin 2025
The National Lottery rounded off its 30th birthday celebrations with a special reception at Speaker’s House on Tuesday 10 June. Held by kind permission of Mr Speaker, the event brought together MPs, peers and partners to celebrate a major milestone: £50 billion raised for over 650,000 Good Causes across the UK since 1994.
“Behind the breathtaking numbers lie countless stories of transformation brought about by National Lottery players,” said Darren Henley, Chair of the National Lottery Forum and CEO of Arts Council England. “Together we’ve preserved our precious heritage, helped Olympic and Paralympic athletes bring home over 1,000 medals, and empowered local organisations that serve as the bedrock of our communities. This is 30 years' worth celebrating.”
More than 150 guests heard from our Game Changers – inspirational individuals whose lives have been transformed by National Lottery funding. One of them, Marcus Fair, shared how he overcame addiction, homelessness and prison to found Eternal Media, a charity using filmmaking to support rehabilitation.
Also in attendance were CEOs and Chairs from The National Lottery’s distributor bodies, including: Arts Council England, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts Council of Wales, British Film Institute (BFI), Creative Scotland, The National Lottery Community Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, Sport Wales, sportscotland and UK Sport.
Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross said:
“National Lottery funding provided over the last three decades has transformed lives through its contributions to arts, sports and heritage, supporting communities across the country.”
“The National Lottery’s commitment to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for all will be invaluable as we deliver our Plan for Change. I want to thank every person who has ever played – making thousands of vital community projects possible. Happy 30th Birthday, National Lottery!”
Andria Vidler, Chief Executive of National Lottery operator Allwyn, added:
“We’re proud to mark this milestone – £50 billion raised for Good Cause projects across the UK. And just this week, National Lottery players raised an incredible £50 million through playing our games.”
“But it’s not just about the big numbers – it’s about the lives changed, the communities transformed, and the stories behind it all. We also want to thank our 43,500 retail partners who serve as the public face of The National Lottery and play a vital role in communities.
“Looking ahead, we’re committed to transforming The National Lottery and continuing this incredible journey.”
Every week, National Lottery players raise over £30 million for Good Causes
The impact goes far beyond the projects themselves – over 43,500 retailers, many of them small businesses, have earned more than £8 billion in commission. And more than 7,400 players have become millionaires.
30 years of National Lottery funding - at a glance:
£19+ billion to community projects – from Maggie’s Cancer Care to postnatal groups, youth clubs and charities tackling loneliness.
£8.2+ billion to sport – funding Olympians, Paralympians, local sports grounds and children’s teams.
£7.9+ billion to arts and culture – supporting everything from national venues like the Wales Millennium Centre and V&A Dundee, to grassroots choirs, galleries and arts groups.
£8.7+ billion to heritage – preserving iconic sites like the Mary Rose, the National Portrait Gallery, the Giant’s Causeway and untold local histories.
Thanks to You
A huge and heartfelt thank you to National Lottery players for making it all possible.
