BEIJING, Feb. 26 -- China's lottery sales hit 27.15 billion yuan (4.45 billion U.S. dollars) in January, up 9.2 percent year on year, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday.

Welfare lottery sales reached 15.83 billion yuan, up 7.8 percent year on year. Sports lottery sales rose 11.3 percent year on year to 11.32 billion yuan.

Money raised through lotteries is used for the jackpot, management fees and public lottery funds.

China's lottery sales topped 309.33 billion yuan in 2013, up 18.3 percent year on year.