China Lottery Sales Soaring


5/15/10 – Chinese punters continued to strongly support the national lotteries in the country during April, generating revenues that soared 23.1 percent to 14.1 billion yuan (US$2.1 billion), reports the Xinghua news agency.
 
Ministry of Finance statistics released Friday showed that from January to April, lottery sales rose 24.1 percent year on year to 48.73 billion yuan (US$7.13 billion).
 
The money raised through lotteries is divided into three parts: the jackpot; lottery management fees; and lottery public funds.
 
In related news, a British ticket holder in the EuroMillions lottery struck it lucky big-time on Friday to become Britain’s biggest ever single lottery winner.
 
The unidentified punter will be paid a stunning GBP 84.4 million as early as Monday, a spokesman for the lottery operated in the UK, Camelot, told The Press Association.
 
"This is absolutely fantastic news – and the biggest ever lottery win in the UK," he said. "Subject to a claim being received and validated, the prize could be paid out when the banks open on Monday.
 
"The winner can then decide whether or not to go public and share their news."
 
The five winning numbers in Friday night's draw were 01, 17, 31, 43 and 47, with the Lucky Star numbers 02 and 03.
 
The record prize tops the GBP 56 million jackpot paid out to Gloucestershire couple Nigel Page and Justine Laycock in February. They shared a GBP113 million EuroMillions jackpot with a winner from Spain.