Sales for the weekend's Lotto game were the worst since the National Lottery was launched nine years ago, Camelot has announced.

The operator claimed the drop had been expected, after it launched alternative games in a bid to revive customer interest.

But it conceded that further falls in Lotto ticket sales could not be ruled out.

In November it announced that lottery sales had fallen by more than 5% in the previous six months, despite a �72m relaunch earlier in the year.

'Above expectations'

Camelot said that sales for Saturday night's Lotto draw were �38.4m.

The previous low, of �38.5m, was on 28 December of last year.

A spokeswoman for the company said that games including Lotto HotPicks and Thunderball were performing "above expectations."

Admitting that Lotto sales could fall further still, she said: "We expect to see Lotto perform in a similar way as we introduce new games and offer players different opportunities to win different amounts of money."

Unpopular causes

With the launch of an internet 'scratch card' due within weeks and other web-based games expected to follow, Camelot is looking to technology to increase interest.

It also hopes to introduce a daily draw and is in talks with operators in Spain and France about linking up for a European game.

Last November's results showed Camelot's profits after tax had fallen, from �15.8m over six months to �12.2m.

It said that grants to unpopular causes had reduced interest in the game.

The next set of six-monthly results are not expected until May.