rding to data compiled by the Ministry of Finance of China, lottery sales experienced a significant year-on-year rise of 11.3% in October, reaching CNY37.65bn (US$5.68bn).

This overall jump has been prompted by an impressive monthly performance in the sports segment. Sports lottery sales in October nearly hit the CNY20bn ($3bn) mark, rising 17% in year-on-year terms; whilst welfare lottery sales increased by 5.8% to CNY18.31bn ($2.7bn).

For the first ten months of 2017, combined lottery sales raked CNY348bn ($52bn) and reported a rise of 7.7% in year-on-year terms. So far this year, sales of sports lottery products hiked by 10.7% to CNY171.51bn while welfare lottery sales posted a 4.9% increase to CNY176.92bn.

Guangdong has maintained its position as the leading lottery market in China with combined sales of welfare and sports lottery tickets up 6% from the year-prior. Moreover, monthly figures show sales increased in 29 of the 31 provinces of mainland China.