The Loterie Nationale is the largest contributor to Oeuvre, giving €23.7 million to the organisation in 2017, of which €20 million was allocated.

The total allocations fell by 43% compared with 2016 when some €35 million was given to not for profit activities meeting the Oeuvre criteria.

This was partly explained by the fact that in 2016 Oeuvre released reserves to “respond to a surge of solidarity of the population to help with the migration crisis,” according to Oeuvre president Pierre Bley speaking on Monday.

But, national lottery director Leon Losch added there was another explanation. He said that since people were increasingly opting to use the estimated 1,200 illegal betting terminals found around the country instead of playing the lottery, this was eating away at lottery revenues.

“It's not our role to control the cafés, but it is clear that almost nothing is done to stop these illegal games. Some cafés have turned into underground gambling halls. It is not by selling coffee that they make their profits. For our part, we can count on our network of 450 sales outlets,” Losch said.

The national lottery recorded revenues of €101.5 million in 2017, of which 54% went to winners, 7% to sales outlets, 15% to management fees and 23% to Oeuvre.