Society lotteries raised a record £332.2m for good causes last year, official figures show.
Data published by the Gambling Commission yesterday shows the amount raised by society lotteries rose by £32.9m in the 12 months to the end of March this year.
A spokeswoman for The Lotteries Council, a membership body for charities that run society lotteries in Britain, said the massive increase could not be attributed to a single factor but that players were attracted to society lotteries because they funded charities.
The Lotteries Council has been campaigning for an increase in the annual sales limits set on society lotteries.
The government indicated in the summer that it would increase the limit from £10m a year to £50m but the council wants it to be raised to £100m a year.
Tony Vick, chair of The Lotteries Council, said the latest figures “further strengthen the case for those changes”.
He said: “The charity lottery sector has a huge amount of fundraising talent within it – both staff and volunteers – and charities such as hospices, air ambulances, community groups and sports teams benefit as a result.
“Given the tight charity fundraising climate this growth in income is very welcome.”