Chinese lottery recovery continues in August

After posting double-digit annual growth in July, August sales increased 2 per cent year-on-year.  

China.- The Ministry of Finance has reported a 2 per cent year-on-year growth in lottery sales in August. 

It’s the second consecutive month in which lottery sales rose, after the decline resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. In July, lottery sales in China rose by 10.4 year-on-year.   

Total sales reached CNY37.78 billion (US$5.55 billion) in August, which was a 4.5 per cent increase on July.

Sports Lottery sales rose 10.5 per cent to CNY21.53 billion (US$3.17 billion), while Welfare Lottery sales decreased 9.3 per cent, to CNY13.25 billion (US$1.95 billion). 

Digital lotteries sales increased 16.7 per cent to CNY21.94 billion (US$3.23 billion) in August, while sports betting sales remained steady at CNY10.24 billion (US$1.5 billion). 

Instant win games were up 18.2 per cent to CNY2.59 billion (US$381 million), while Keno sales declined 15.6 per cent to CNY12.9 million (US$1.89 million). 

Sales through the first eight months of 2020 accumulated CNY194.83 billion (US$28.6 billion), down 30.3 per cent year-on-year.