Lottery sales in mainland China rose 25.2 percent in year-on-year terms to RMB32.25 billion (US$5.3 billion) in September, official data from the Ministry of Finance show.
In September, sales of welfare lottery tickets stood at RMB17.47 billion, up by 19.6 percent, while sports lottery sales rose by 32.5 percent, to RMB14.78 billion.
Lottery sales in mainland China reached RMB279.41 billion during the first nine months of the year, an increase of 24.5 percent compared with a year earlier. Sales were up in all of the country’s provinces.
Welfare lottery sales reached RMB150.43 billion during the period between January and September, up by 17.5 percent. Sports lottery ticket sales grew at a much faster rate – 33.8 percent – reaching RMB128.98 billion.
China’s sports lottery sales spiked in June and July thanks to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The month-long tournament kicked-off on June 12.
Seemingly spurred by rising disposable income and a strong appetite for gambling, China’s lottery market has boomed with customers splashing some RMB309.33 billion in 2013.
