BEIJING — China’s lottery sales rose 8.4 percent year-on-year to 43.02 billion yuan ($6.33 billion) in December, official data showed on Jan 26.

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.