News reaches AGI that the official Sports Lottery in China is running trials of live football betting to coincide with the excitement of the end to the European soccer season.
It is one of only two bodies (the other being the Welfare Lottery) authorised under current rules to organise gambling in order to raise money for social causes and sport development.
The finale of the European football club calendar includes not only the clinching games of the major domestic leagues such as England’s Premier League and Italy’s Serie A, but also the semi-finals and final of the UEFA Champions League, the premier club championship in the world.
There had been speculation in the run up to the Beijing Olympics last year that China would authorise some kind of live sports betting during the games itself, but that proved premature.