BEIJING — China's lottery ticket sales totaled 32.61 billion yuan (about $5 billion) in August, down 6.2 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Sales of lottery tickets to support China's welfare system totaled 11.45 billion yuan in August, while sales of lottery tickets to support the country's sports industry reached 21.16 billion yuan, according to the ministry.

In the first eight months, total lottery sales amounted to 247.29 billion yuan, up 26.9 percent year-on-year.

Under China's lottery management rules, funds raised from ticket sales are used for administrative expenses, public welfare projects and prize winnings.