China's welfare lottery sales totaled 85.3 billion yuan (about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars) during the first half of 2013, up 13 percent year on year, authorities announced Friday.
According to the China Welfare Lottery Issuing and Management Center, lottery sales raised more than 24.6 billion yuan in public welfare funding from Jan. to June, an increase of over 10 percent year on year.
Half of the country's public welfare funds go to China's treasury, while the other half is distributed to local governments across the country. Funds are then allocated to social welfare programs and charities.
Lou Quguo, vice director of the Center, said public funds raised by the welfare lottery have financed more than 230,000 welfare projects since its debut in 1987, and have immediately benefited 21 million around the country in the areas of basic allowance, health and education.
According to China's Regulations on Lottery Management, money raised through lotteries is divided into three parts: the jackpot, lottery management fees and public welfare funds.
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