China’s lottery craze: the true scale of gambling obsession

Gambling has been deeply embedded in Chinese culture for over 4,000 years, with its origins dating back to the Xia and Shang dynasties. Throughout history, games of chance have transcended social classes, serving as both entertainment and a method of raising funds for major state projects.?

Early forms of lotteries, along with other gambling traditions, were commonplace, reflecting a longstanding fascination with fortune and risk. Despite periodic bans and government crackdowns due to concerns over social impact, the appetite for gambling has endured.?

Today, this cultural affinity is most visible through state-sanctioned lotteries, which provide a legal avenue for millions of Chinese citizens to try their luck.

Lottery fever hits 300M players

In modern China, the craze continues to grow. According to the latest figures from the Chinese Ministry of Finance, lottery sales reached a record-breaking 620 billion yuan (€81.2 billion) in 2024, averaging more than 2,000 yuan (€262) per person.

As per official estimates, over 300 million lottery players were registered nationwide. However, some argue that the surge in sales is largely driven by the sports lottery, which now accounts for 66 percent of total lottery revenue.

Guizhou province, for instance, saw the nation’s largest-ever lottery payout last February when a 28-year-old man won 680 million yuan (€89 million). In comparison, Hong Kong’s biggest lottery jackpot, HK$188 million (€22.3 million), was won during the recent Lunar New Year holiday.

State media reports that lottery ticket sales contribute to funding China’s welfare system and sports industry. Under lottery management regulations, proceeds are allocated to administrative expenses, public welfare projects, and prize payments.

Numbers game: is China bluffing?

What is particularly intriguing, however, is that China has officially shared these figures—but in reality, this may only be the tip of the iceberg. The craze for lotteries in China is far greater than anticipated, and it has become especially pronounced in the post-COVID-19 period...[Read More]