According to the institution’s 2024 Annual Report, the state received €895.5 million from this revenue, through €673 million distributed to beneficiaries and €211.6 million from stamp duty—an all-time high for this tax on lottery sales.

According to the report, “the year 2024 recorded the highest value ever of prizes paid by Jogos Santa Casa to bettors, totalling €2,073.20 million.”

The strong performance of the lottery games also led to a record €247.9 million in commissions paid to agents, most of whom are small, family-run businesses. This has had a notable impact on local economies and employment.

Paulo Sousa, the provider of Santa Casa, revealed that upon taking office, the board encountered a significant downturn in lottery activity compared to 2023. One of the top priorities was reversing this trend swiftly.

Key measures included resolving accessibility issues for certain games, expanding the network of agents, now around 5,000 across Portugal, after more than a decade without significant growth, and investing over €20 million in upgrading the retail technology platform.

Sousa also highlighted that 2024 saw the highest ever volume of digital lottery sales, acknowledging the growing importance of online channels while reaffirming the institution’s commitment to its physical retail network and the terms of its operating licence.

Despite the strong financial results, Sousa acknowledged the ongoing concern of gambling addiction, although he stressed that social lottery games account for just 15% of total gambling in Portugal. Santa Casa also operates a support helpline for problem gambling, though over 65% of calls are unrelated to their games. He called for greater focus on the societal challenge posed by online gambling.