Mainland China’s total official lottery sales for February were RMB28.15 billion (US$4.08 billion), up 25.4 percent year-on-year, according to official data from the country’s Ministry of Finance.
Welfare lottery sales increased by 23.9 percent, reaching RMB15.30 billion, while sports lottery sales went up 27.1 percent to RMB12.86 billion, the ministry announced on Thursday.
Sales were up – in year-on-year terms – in 30 of the 31 regional level jurisdictions of mainland China where sales of lottery tickets are allowed.
The ministry did not provide a reason for the increase in lottery sales in February. The first days of the Chinese New Year period are typically a busy period for gaming-related activities, as millions of mainland Chinese eye to test their luck for the New Year. In 2017, the first day of the Chinese New Year holiday fell on January 28.
Combined lottery sales in the first two months of this year amounted to RMB57.32 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.0 percent.
Welfare lottery sales in the January to February period increased by 3.4 percent year-on-year to RMB31.51 billion, while sports lottery sales were RMB25.81 billion, up 4.8 percent.
Online sales of mainland China lottery products are currently suspended, a move described by the authorities as temporary but which has hit several companies. In April 2015, eight Chinese government agencies confirmed a suspension of what they described as “unauthorised online lottery sales services”.
