UK National Lottery operator Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd posted record digital sales in its most recent fiscal year while retail sales merely limped along.

On Tuesday, Camelot reported its fiscal 2018-19 sales had topped £7.2b in the 12 months ending March 31, a 3.7% improvement over the previous fiscal year. Draw-based games fell by £35m to £4.08b, while in-store Scratchards and online Instant Win Games combined for sales of £3.12b, up by £290m year-on-year.

As with previous years, digital sales growth vastly outstripped retail growth. Total digital (interactive and subscription) sales rose by more than £181m to a record £1.83b, of which mobile and tablet devices accounted for £1.02b, an impressive year-on-year rise of £319m. By contrast, retail sales were up only £73.8m to £5.37b, despite efforts to introduce new sales options at some retail self-checkouts.

Despite the overall sales rise, Camelot’s total returns to ‘Good Causes’ fell by £600k to £1.65b. These good causes included £39m for Camelot’s “necessary marketing expenditure,” as agreed with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).