BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's lottery sales rose 8.4 percent year on year to 43.02 billion yuan (6.33 billion U.S. dollars) in December, official data showed Saturday.

Sales of welfare lottery tickets edged down 0.2 percent from a year ago to 20.6 billion yuan, while sports lottery sales jumped 17.8 percent to 22.42 billion yuan, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

Under China's lottery management rules, money from lottery ticket sales is used for administrative expenses, public welfare projects and prize money.

Twenty-two provincial regions posted year-on-year sales increases last month, with Shandong, Zhejiang and Henan leading the sales volume growth.

Total lottery sales in 2018 stood at 511.47 billion yuan, up 19.9 percent year on year, the ministry said.

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