China reports lottery sales decrease

Lottery sales in mainland China decreased by approximately 41% during June operations.

China.- Lottery activity in mainland China is still navigating a downward trend, as June results are in and the numbers are negative once again. Lottery sales during June operations decreased by 40.7% year-on-year.

According to official data from China’s Ministry of Finance, sales totalled €4.5 billion in June, which represents a 40.7% decrease when compared to the same period a year before. It also marked the fifth consecutive month of lottery sales declines in mainland China.

The Ministry of Finance said that this decrease is attributable to a very high rhythm of activity in June 2018, as the FIFA World Cup boosted sales. Sports lottery sales in June 2019 fell to €2.4 billion, which is 52.3% less than June 2018. Moreover, welfare lottery tickets sale decreased by 16.6% to €2 billion.

May results

Last month, the number of sales decreased by 12.7% year-on-year to €4.5 billion. May’s negative results mark the fourth consecutive month in which the sale of official lottery tickets fell in year-on-year terms. Sales were reportedly down in 28 of the 31 provinces authorised to sell lottery tickets in mainland China. Moreover, welfare lottery sales also fell by 15.7% to €2 billion last month. Sports lottery decreased by 10% to nearly €2.4 billion.

The Ministry said that lottery tickets sales for the first five months of the year were down by 4.7% year-on-year to €22.7 billion. Welfare lottery sales also reported negative results as they decreased by 10.6% year-on-year to approximately €10.4 billion. Furthermore, sports lottery sales were the best performer in the first five months of the year, although it registered a 1% fall to €12.2 billion.