China turned the 2026 World Cup into a betting powerhouse; the China Sports Lottery generated RMB83.31 billion, equivalent to approximately US$11.6 billion, in football prediction sales during the six weeks between June 8 and July 19. The state operator reported RMB6.87 billion from June 8–14; RMB15.15 billion from June 15–21; RMB16.27 billion from June 22–28; RMB17.20 billion between June 29 and July 5; RMB16.84 billion from July 6–12; and RMB10.98 billion during the week of the final. Weekly sales averaged RMB13.89 billion, while the peak coincided with the start of the knockout stage.
The figures published by China Sports Lottery represent ticket sales or betting turnover, not profit, revenue after prizes or gross gaming revenue. The World Cup total was equivalent to 19.9% of the RMB419.39 billion generated by the Sports Lottery throughout 2025 and 13.3% of China’s entire lottery market, which reached RMB627.97 billion.
Lan Fo’an
The organisation is headed by Zhang Jianhua, director and Communist Party secretary since December 2025. Deputy director Dong Hongfang led operational preparations for the World Cup on May 14. The supervisory structure also includes Gao Zhidan, director of the General Administration of Sport, and finance minister Lan Fo’an, whose ministry authorizes products and overseas sales, funds and their distribution.
Mainland China prohibits private bookmakers, casinos and unauthorised online betting but permits the Sports Lottery and Welfare Lottery as state monopolies. The framework rests on the Regulations on Lottery Administration, State Council Decree 554; Joint Order 96; and the 2018 Lottery Issuance and Sales Measures.
The Jingcai product offers prizes of up to RMB5 million through authorized outlets. The World Cup ran from June 11 to July 19, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, despite China failing to qualify. CCTV recorded more than 70 billion cumulative views; the Spain–Argentina final generated 282 million cross-platform contacts and a peak audience of 41.23 million.
