How China's national lotteries contribute to public services

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Lottery winners often make headlines with handsome jackpots and elaborate disguises to hide their identities when claiming their prizes. But one thing that is often neglected is the fact that the general public is also the beneficiary of lotteries.

China now has two state-run lotteries, which are the Welfare Lottery from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the Sports Lottery from the General Administration of Sport. The two authorities and the Ministry of Finance approve lottery ticket sales across the country.

A lottery station in Beijing. /VCG Photo

Every year, the two administrations are allowed to use part of the lotteries' sales revenue to improve public services and welfare across the country.

Funds from the Welfare Lottery are divided into different sub-sections. In 2016, the Ministry of Civil Affairs had Welfare Lottery funding in its sports branch amounting to 388 million US dollars, 3.5 percent lower than the year before, according to a statement the ministry released on Friday.

Among the total funds, over 354 million US dollars was used to subsidize local projects. The biggest single expenditure was for a surgical rehabilitation and correction project for disabled people, amounting to 6.5 million US dollars.

CGTN Photo

For the Sports Lottery, the General Administration of Sport said that last year, it obtained lottery funding of 388 million US dollars, which was used for sports development projects across the country.

It said that 88.08 percent of the funds were spent on promoting sports development among the public, while the rest was used to support competitive sports.

CGTN Photo‍

A total of 302 million US dollars was used for the construction of national fitness facilities and on physical fitness equipment, the administration said in a statement.