Loterie Romande achieves record profit despite weak jackpot cycle

In its annual report for the year to 31 December 2023, Loterie Romande achieved gross gaming revenue of CHF420.7m ($458.9m /€423.9m /£360.6m). This was down 3.4% on the record CHF435.5m generated in 2022.

Loterie Romande, which is the lottery provider for the six French-speaking Swiss cantons, said geopolitical and economic challenges contributed towards the revenue drop. The absence of long jackpot cycles for Swiss Loto and EuroMillions also reduced demand from casual players at points of sale.

Some 70% of adults in French-speaking Switzerland played a Loterie Romande game in 2023. The most popular game was EuroMillions, played by 67% of French-speaking people. This was followed by Tribolo scratchcards (61%), Swiss Loto (56%) and Rento (41%).

Lottery draws remained the largest vertical, generating CHF152.3m. However, this was down 8.4% year-on-year, in part thanks to the absence of long jackpot cycles. Instant win tickets brought in CHF135.3m.

In 2023, 31 players won at least CHF1m thanks to Swiss Loto and EuroMillions.

Financial investments boost results

While revenue decreased, Loterie Romande increased profits and paid a record profit to the public utility in 2023. The group will pay out CHF243.7m to good causes, which is up on the CHF243.4m distributed in 2022.

Savings on financial expenses and income was the biggest contributor towards the profit growth. Unlike 2022, financial investments achieved positive performances, generating a net profit of CHF5.1m. Loterie Romande was able to slightly reduce marketing and general administrative costs.

“This result can be attributed in particular to the rigorous management of operating costs, the strengthening of our digital offering, and – with the launch of the European draw game EuroDreams in October 2023 – the diversity of our product range,” said Jean-René Fournier, chairman of Loterie Romande.

Almost 5,000 projects in Vaud, Fribourg, Valais, Neuchâtel, Geneva and Jura will receive a total of CHF220.8m. National sport will receive CHF19.5m, while the Swiss Horse Racing Federation will get CHF3.4m.