Beijing, October 21, 2026. China's lottery sales reached CNY 67.389 billion (US$10.04 billion) in September, representing 27.3% year-over-year growth, driven by sports betting and the prolonged impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a report released on October 20 by the Ministry of Finance, headed by Lan Fo'an.
The market expanded by CNY 14.457 billion compared with September 2025. Sports lottery sales generated CNY 50.82 billion (+43.2%), while welfare lottery sales declined 5% to CNY 16.569 billion.
Zhang Jianhua
Sports prediction betting accounted for CNY 39.386 billion (+73.1%), representing 58.4% of the market. Number-based lotteries recorded CNY 13.942 billion (−7.3%), instant lottery tickets generated CNY 9.967 billion (−14.9%), and Keno reached CNY 4.094 billion (+19.5%).
The General Administration of Sport of China, through the China Sports Lottery Administration Center, headed by Zhang Jianhua, oversees sports lottery activities, while the Ministry of Civil Affairs supervises the welfare lottery segment.
Between January and September, national lottery sales totaled CNY 545.82 billion (US$81.33 billion), an increase of 14.6%. Sports lottery sales contributed CNY 397.721 billion (+25.7%), while welfare lottery sales reached CNY 148.099 billion (−7.3%). Sports prediction betting generated CNY 295.929 billion (+41.7%) during the nine-month period, compared with CNY 129.044 billion from number-based lotteries, CNY 91.812 billion from instant lottery tickets, and CNY 29.031 billion from Keno.
All 31 provincial-level jurisdictions recorded growth in September. Shandong led the absolute increases with CNY 1.6 billion, followed by Henan (CNY 1.43 billion), Zhejiang (CNY 1.16 billion), and Jiangsu (CNY 1.05 billion). Under the 2009 Regulations on the Administration of Lotteries, the state-run system allocates portions of lottery sales to prizes, operating costs, and public welfare funds. In 2025, these funds received CNY 162.105 billion, allocated to social welfare and sports development.
