2021 German Lottery Sales Decline Despite Online Growth

The German State Lottery Association (DLTB) reported that €3.2 billion was generated for public welfare in 2021 through stakes and duties, averaging about €8.8 million daily. This revenue supports welfare programs, sports, cultural activities, monument preservation, and environmental protection. Axel Holthaus, the joint managing director of Toto-Lotto Niedersachsen, which assumed the DLTB chairmanship on January 1, stated that the results were satisfactory despite fluctuations in the prize pool and a decrease in jackpot cycles. Lotto 6aus49 remained the most popular game, contributing €4.0 billion, or 50.6%, of total sales, helped by a new draw formula that led to increased prizes and larger jackpots. Eurojackpot, the pan-European lottery, accounted for €1.4 billion (17.7%) of sales, although this was a decrease from the previous year due to shorter jackpot phases affecting prize pools. Online ticket sales, however, rose by 7.8% year-on-year, reaching €985 million. Holthaus's co-managing director, Sven Osthoff, noted that this growth demonstrated DLTB members’ commitment to directing gambling activities toward regulated platforms. The implementation of the new State Treaty on Gambling (GlüNeuRStV) on July 1, 2021, further supported these efforts. Osthoff explained, 'The comprehensive political consensus supporting the 2021 State Treaty on Gambling is a success, as otherwise there would have been a patchwork of gambling regulations, with a detrimental effect on the protection of players and minors.' As Toto-Lotto Niedersachsen embarks on its three-year leadership of the DLTB, succeeding Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz, Holthaus emphasized the intention to enhance lottery products that pool players across states to better compete with the growing igaming sector. Osthoff added, 'We look forward to using our digital expertise to aid the DLTB. It is important to sustain the goals of serving the common good through this digital transformation.'