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Vol. 8 No. 6, June 2009, Dateline
China Eyes Lottery Growth
Chinese lottery could gross as much as $150 billion—three times as big as the U.S.
A new lottery law was approved in China last month, and the issuance of a third lottery license was granted.
With a government increasingly seeking revenue, the possibility of increasing the size of the Chinese lottery even further is being considered.
Currently, a limited lottery grosses about $10 billion, but some experts believe that by entering areas currently controlled by illegal betting, a Chinese lottery could become the largest in the world at $150 billion. In comparison, the U.S. lotteries gross about $50 billion, Italian lotteries $14 billion, Spanish lotteries $13 billion and the U.K. less than $10 billion.
It is estimated that as much as $32 billion is spent on illegal lotteries throughout the country.
Gary Newman, chairman and chief executive officer of Global Lottery Corporation, based in Las Vegas, one of the world’s leading lottery technology providers, said a new license in China has been the major rumor in the world’s lottery industry.
“It will be dramatic. Rumors are all out there to lottery service providers that a third license has been issued and it is a national license,” he said.
Heilongjiang Welfare Lottery Center has authorized VODone Limited to introduce a lottery betting service for mobile end users in China.
Heilongjiang Welfare Lottery Center is the first batch of agencies to receive permission from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China to introduce a mobile lottery service. Heilongjiang is ranked top 10 among national Welfare Lottery sales.
In cooperation with Heilongjiang Welfare Lottery Center and Chinasatcom, VODone is currently the only company in China offering mobile lottery services.
VODone has also opened the cai.vodone.com portal “Lottery Lifestyle,” which broadcasts lottery-related news and information supplied by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and is co-managed by China Association of Social Workers and China Philanthropy Times. VODone and the newspaper will together launch the “Expert Lottery Comments” channel, providing exclusive lottery news.
VODone also plans to launch the “Constant Lottery” live webcast, which will feature live draws every 10 minutes.
Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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