The national lottery could see a £5 billion shortfall in the money raised for the "good causes" it was set up to fund.

When Camelot was awarded the contract to run the lottery it estimated that £15 billion could be raised for good causes but lottery regulator Lord Burns has warned that sales are unlikely to top the current £5 billion a year and that good causes should anticipate £10 billion being raised over the seven year lifetime of the next lottery license.

Camelot said that meeting its aim of raising £15 billion for the good causes would depend on whether the commission agreed to the games in its license bid and any regulatory changes to gambling regulations.