AGTech launches instant scratch lottery product in joint venture with SF Holdings

Hong Kong-listed lottery provider AGTech has introduced new instant win games, launched in partnership with Chinese logistics firm SF Holdings.

Having been approved by the Chinese Ministry of Finance, the new scratchcard products, named “SF-Themed Instant Scratch Lottery”, have been made available in four pilot cities – Shenzen, Nanchang, Changsha and Nanjing.

AGTech and SF Holdings announced the joint venture back in April 2017, which allows customers receiving a parcel through an SF courier to purchase tickets directly through them, while prospective punters can also order tickets and have SF Express deliver them directly.

SF Lottery, the name given to AGTech and SF Holdings’ joint venture subsidiary, also has access to the latter’s large network of retail stores, increasing the accessibility of the lottery games beyond traditional betting stations.

In a country where lottery players cannot legally purchase tickets online, the SF Lottery venture could significantly streamline the process of playing lottery games once rolled out country-wide.

Offering a top prize of ¥1,000,000, customers can also redeem their winnings using the SF Financial app to scan the ticket’s QR code, negating the need to visit a lottery office in claiming a win.

The “innovative lottery product” was designed by SF Lottery with the National Sports Lottery Centre.

Speaking to the South China Morning Post, AGTech COO Jimmy Bai said the company’s aim is to expand the programme beyond the four initial pilot cities and to the rest of China by the end of the year.