Chinese lottery sales continue to climb in May

Total market sales were up from CNY29.22bn in May 2020 and also 3.8% higher than the CNY29.10bn reported in April this year.

The Sports Lottery accounted for the majority of sales, bringing in CNY18.88bn for the month, up 24.2% on the previous year. However, there was a further decline among Welfare Lottery agencies, with sales down 19.2% year-on-year to CNY11.3bn.

Higher digital sales contributed to growth in the sports lotteries market, with sales for the channel up 8.4% to CNY6.40bn for the month. 

Sports prediction games remained the most popular with players, accounting for CNY10.13bn in sports lottery sales in May, up 5.5% on 2020, but instant Sports Lottery sales declined 3.3% to CNY23.54bn.

For the Welfare Lottery, digital was by far the main source of income, with sales reaching CNY7.28bn for the month, up 1.2% on last year. Instant ticket sales were down 5.3% to CNY2.28bn, but keno sales were 12.7% higher at CNY1.76bn.

Looking at regional performance and lottery sales increased year-on-year in 19 provinces across China, including in Guangdong, Henan and Sichuan, where sales reached CNY466m, CNY362m and CNY354m respectively in May. 

For the year to date, total lottery sales in five months to the end of May were CNY143.82bn, up 59.2% on the same point last year. That prior year was badly affected by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Welfare Lottery sales in the five-month period were 28.4% higher at CNY56.48bn, while sales in the Sports Lottery market rocketed 88.5% year-on-year to CNY87.35bn.