China witnessed a substantial surge in its national lottery ticket sales in January, with figures from the Ministry of Finance revealing a year-on-year increase of 73.3%. Total sales surpassed 57.56 billion yuan (about $8.1 billion).
Sales of lottery tickets aimed at supporting welfare initiatives soared to 19.69 billion yuan, marking an impressive 81.6% increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, sales of tickets supporting the sports sector reached 37.87 billion yuan, representing a substantial 69.2% year-on-year rise.
Lottery management regulations in China dictate that proceeds from ticket sales are allocated towards administrative expenses, public welfare projects, and prizes.
The surge in lottery sales can be attributed to various factors, including the relatively low baseline from the previous year’s market closure and the introduction of new instant lottery games.
In terms of sales by type, Lotto digital lottery sales reached 16.584 billion yuan, up by 71.3% year-on-year. Guess lottery sales totaled 23.243 billion yuan, showing a 50.4% increase. Instant lottery sales witnessed the most significant surge, reaching 14.058 billion yuan, a 122.8% increase. Keno lottery sales amounted to 36.79 billion yuan, marking a 107.5% year-on-year rise.
Sales performance varied across different regions, with all provinces reporting an increase in lottery sales compared to the same period last year. Significant increases were observed in provinces such as Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shandong.
The Ministry of Finance emphasized the importance of closely monitoring market trends and enhancing lottery issuance and sales strategies to ensure continued market stability. Financial authorities at all levels have been urged to bolster supervision efforts and maintain market order to support the sustainable development of the lottery industry.