National Lottery operator Camelot has continued its recent trading revival with a 5.7% hike in first quarter sales, it announced today.

The increase to £1.17 billion during the three months to the end of June marks the longest period of growth for the group since 1997.

Camelot said the sales hike - which includes better Lotto and non-Lotto sales - was "further evidence that we are firmly back on track".

Although Camelot admitted sales were boosted by the first-ever triple rollover draw, it said the business would still have been ahead without the help of this.

Growth was achieved across the business, with a 3% hike in Lotto sales and an 11.8% increase in non-Lotto sales - including scratchcards, the Thunderball draw and Lotto HotPicks.

The National Lottery, whose sales went into decline in 1997 amid flagging interest in tickets, said a series of new games helped reverse the trend in this year's annual results.

The company now plans to further boost sales by introducing National Lottery games on mobile phones, rolling out 800 more terminals and developing a system to sell lottery tickets at supermarket checkouts.

Monday July 19, 2004