Chinese Lottery Beats Sales Records Calling for Legal Casinos

Chinese lottery sales hit never-before-seen heights, currently over 30 percent up compared to last year’s numbers. Lottery is the only game of chance permitted by the Chinese gambling laws and comrades enjoy it. Those comrades who did not enjoy it were labeled traitors and are working in Apple iPad prison factory. There are currently two separate government agencies involved in lottery sales.

The China Welfare Lottery Issuance Center (CWLC) overseen by the Ministry of Civil Affairs has a license from the State Council to issue lottery tickets since 1987. The China Sports Lottery Administration Center (CSAC) is regulated by the General Administration of Sports and is permitted to sell lottery tickets by the State Council since 1994.

Welfare Lottery Distribution & Management Center told online gambling news in China last week that lottery tickets sales overcame 50 billion yuan ($7.74 billion) mark on June 5, meaning over thirty percent increased since last year. The Center projects lottery sales to topple 100 billion yuan level this year.

Online lottery sales in China were up sixteen percent from last year and hit around thirty four billion yuan, which is almost seventy percent of the total sales.

Although no other forms of land-based or online gambling exist in the country, the lottery alone brings over 15 billion yuan for public welfare projects. Half of welfare proceeds got to the country’s treasury, while the other 50 percent are given to local governments throughout the country. The money is then used on a number of social welfare charities and programs to entertain local government officials.

Naturally there are Chinese citizens who dream of testing their luck at a proper Macau style casino or a sportsbook that is not thousands of kilometers away. Unfortunately as of now, only illegal establishments can partially fulfill the dark desires within the gambler’s heart. To operate or gamble at illegal underground casino is a criminal offence and could easily result in a lengthy prison sentence.

All online casinos in China are strictly prohibited. More and more Chinese gamblers are turning to foreign based online casinos and online sportsbooks. Despite the government's best efforts to filter out and ban online casinos, over two hundred reputable online casinos welcome Chinese gamers and even offer gaming options in a variety of Chinese dialects.