onal Lottery operators Camelot have announced record half-year sales, prize payouts, and returns to good causes.

In the six months to 29 September sales increased 8.1% year-on-year to £3,528.8m, while payouts rose to £1,863.3m.

Contributions to National Lottery Good Causes during the period grew £34.5m year-on-year to £952.8m.

The firm also reached their target of raising £750m for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games via the sale of specially-designated lottery games – part of an overall National Lottery contribution of nearly £2.2bn towards the 2012 Games.

Camelot UK Lotteries Limited managing director Andy Duncan said “It’s important to remember that our strong sales growth isn’t a recent occurrence.

“It has taken place over a sustained period of time and is the result of us encouraging millions of players to spend small amounts – something we’ve always publicly said is the way we want to do business.

“But we never take success for granted and are determined to build on our impressive performance over the last six months.”