Beijing tightens the reins on internet lottery sales

A new directive from China’s central government Ministry of Finance has advised that companies selling tickets online for Chinese sports and welfare industries must be approved by three different Ministries, according to a report Saturday in the China Daily newspaper.

The Ministry of Finance directs that the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the General Administration of Sport and the Ministry of Finance must all grant approval before any company is authorised to sell online tickets.

“The Ministry of Finance pointed to “rampant irregularities” in online lottery sales and said that lottery sales organizations have also entrusted Internet companies with sales services without official authorization,” the China Daily reports.

“According to a statement, some Internet companies have even sold fraudulent lottery tickets.”