China’s welfare lottery sales grew 5.1% in 2017 to RMB217 billion (US$33.6 billion).
According to the Welfare Lottery Distribution and Management Center, which is managed by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the lottery raised more than RMB62 billion for public welfare funds last year, state news agency Xinhua reported.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs has been authorized to raise welfare funds through lottery sales since 1987 in which time it has totaled sales of more than RMB1.8 trillion, raising RMB537 billion (US$83 billion) in public welfare funds.
Half of those proceeds are acquired by the state, according to current laws, with the funds used for social security and special aid purposes, while the other half supports social welfare and charities.