In May 2020, total market sales for the lottery increased to CNY29.22bn, representing a 3.8% growth compared to April. The Sports Lottery dominated sales, contributing CNY18.88bn, which is a remarkable 24.2% increase from the previous year. On the other hand, Welfare Lottery agencies experienced a decline in sales, with a decrease of 19.2% year-on-year to CNY11.3bn. The sports lotteries market saw a boost in digital sales, accounting for a growth of 8.4% to CNY6.40bn. Sports prediction games remained the most popular choice among players, generating CNY10.13bn in sports lottery sales in May, marking a 5.5% increase compared to 2020. However, instant Sports Lottery sales suffered a decline of 3.3% to CNY23.54bn. In terms of the Welfare Lottery, digital sales emerged as the primary source of revenue, reaching CNY7.28bn for the month, reflecting a 1.2% growth from last year. Instant ticket sales saw a decrease of 5.3% to CNY2.28bn, while keno sales saw a notable increase of 12.7% to CNY1.76bn.
Examining regional performance, lottery sales witnessed a year-on-year increase in 19 provinces across China, including Guangdong, Henan, and Sichuan. Sales in these regions reached CNY466m, CNY362m, and CNY354m, respectively, in May. In the first five months of the year, total lottery sales amounted to CNY143.82bn, showing a significant 59.2% growth compared to the same period in the previous year. The novel coronavirus pandemic had a considerable impact on lottery sales in the prior year. Welfare Lottery sales during the five-month period were 28.4% higher at CNY56.48bn, while the Sports Lottery market experienced a substantial surge of 88.5% year-on-year, reaching CNY87.35bn in sales.
