Sales down, but jackpot guaranteed

Monday 16 December 2019

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

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.

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.

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

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

“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.” 

Pictured: There are a number of different prizes available. 

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 sales in Guernsey going to good causes throughout the Bailiwick.  In the past five years, more than 80 organisations have benefitted from funding.

Pictured: The Association of Guernsey Charities allocates funds from the lottery to local good causes. 

Malcolm Woodhams, the Chairman of the Association of Guernsey Charities, said: “Each year the Christmas Lottery raises large amounts of money to help local projects and good causes and we know that charities throughout the Channel Islands are extremely grateful to everyone who supports the Christmas game.  The more tickets sold, the greater the amount to local charities who benefit from all proceeds from the Christmas Lottery.”

Local charities can now start applying to receive a grant from the lottery. For information on that click HERE.