Lotterywest has announced a record-breaking year in 2020-21, with a return of $864.9 million to the Western Australian community in grants and lottery prizes.
This includes $313.4 million that has gone to support the WA community through statutory and direct grants - the highest ever achieved.
Lotterywest's results have been possible following a record year of lottery sales, totalling $1.057 billion.
There were 480 WA not-for-profit groups and local governments that benefited through the Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund during 2020-21, with 593 grants totalling $122.2 million to assist those most impacted by the pandemic.
The fund provided grants ranging from $3,000 to the Greenbushes Community Shed to help promote mental health and wellbeing amongst its members, to a $2.65 million grant to the City of Mandurah for a community centre to connect locals with each other.
The Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund, established in March last year, was a swift response by the State Government to reprioritise Lotterywest's grant-making to help the local community recover from the impact of COVID-19.
Over the 15-month duration of the Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund, $159 million in grants were delivered.
Over 2020-21, the State's health sector received a record $153 million in Lotterywest statutory funding, while sports and the arts received $19.1 million each.
In terms of lottery prizes, Western Australian players won $551.5 million and there were 81 Division One winners and 62 Top Prize Scratch 'n' Win winners.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Western Australia is fortunate to have the only State-owned lottery in Australia where the profits are returned back to the community.
"This year's record-breaking result has delivered support and funding to the local community as the State faced the unique challenges of COVID-19.
"My Government acted quickly and made a firm commitment to help the people of WA recover from the effects of the pandemic through establishing the Lotterywest COVID-19 Relief Fund.
"I want to acknowledge the almost 500 small businesses on the front-line selling lottery games, and who have contributed to this great result for the WA community."
