BEIJING, May 25 (Xinhua) -- China's lottery sales dropped 13.7 percent year on year to 35.99 billion yuan (about 5.22 billion U.S. dollars) in April, official data showed.

Sales of welfare lottery tickets declined 17.4 percent from one year earlier to 16.29 billion yuan, while sports lottery sales went down 10.4 percent to 19.7 billion yuan, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance.

In the first four months, lottery sales edged down 2.5 percent year on year to 142.31 billion yuan, the statement said.

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

Three provincial-level regions, namely Sichuan, Guizhou and Shanghai, posted year-on-year sales increases last month.

China's total lottery sales in 2018 stood at 511.47 billion yuan, up 19.9 percent year-on-year.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/25/c_138089354.htm