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Swiss cantons hit record €775M lottery windfall—but where's the money going?

From restoring a tycoon's villa to bankrolling a nuclear lobby event, Switzerland's booming lottery millions spark fierce debate. Is this how public funds should work?

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2 min read
The image shows a poster advertising a lottery nationale with a picture of a bird flying over a...
The image shows a poster advertising a lottery nationale with a picture of a bird flying over a pile of money. The poster has text written on it, likely describing the lottery and its benefits.

Swiss cantons hit record €775M lottery windfall—but where's the money going?

Swiss cantons received a record 775 million Swiss francs from lottery funds in 2024, up from 594 million in 2020. The Intercantonal Gambling Supervisory Authority (Gespa) has now released its latest report on how these funds were allocated across culture, sports, and heritage projects.

The total reserves in cantonal lottery funds also grew to 1.325 billion francs—nearly 38 percent higher than five years ago. But some spending decisions have raised questions about how the money is used.

Most of the 2024 lottery funds went to cultural initiatives, with 263 million francs (41 percent) allocated to arts and events. Sports projects received 154 million (24 percent), while 51 million (8 percent) supported the preservation of cultural heritage.

Twenty out of 26 cantons saw increased revenue from lotteries and sports betting compared to 2020. However, some grants sparked debate. In Thurgau, 242,000 francs were approved for restoring a listed villa owned by businessman Peter Spuhler's PCS Holding. Meanwhile, Zug allocated 5,000 francs to a pro-nuclear lobby event hosted by *Aktion für vernünftige Energiepolitik Schweiz* (Aves). Lucerne proposed using lottery funds to cover half a million francs for its guest appearance at Zurich's 2027 Sechseläuten festival. The canton currently distributes its lottery revenue across 16 different funds, holding a combined total of 10.9 million francs. Critics have weighed in on the system. Liberal think tank Avenir Suisse published a report titled *Luck in Gambling, Blunders in Regulation*, suggesting that lottery funds should be returned directly to the public. In 2019, this would have meant 115 francs per resident.

The 2024 report highlights both growth in lottery revenue and ongoing discussions about its use. Cantonal funds now hold 1.325 billion francs, with allocations ranging from cultural projects to controversial grants. The debate over transparency and fairness in spending is likely to continue.

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