China's 2025 Unclaimed Lottery Prizes Hit Record RMB 2.02 Billion
China's unclaimed lottery prizes reached RMB 2.02 billion in 2025, up 29% from the prior year, a record high. The Ministry of Finance reported that lottery welfare funds totaled about RMB 162.1 billion, up 0.7%, representing 26% of ticket sales. Central government allocated RMB 70.2 billion in welfare fund expenditures, with major shares going to the National Social Security Fund and special public welfare projects.
Unclaimed lottery prizes in China reached RMB 2.02 billion in 2025, an increase of RMB 458 million, or about 29%, from the previous year, setting a new record. According to the Ministry of Finance's announcement on the collection and allocation of lottery public welfare funds, under the Lottery Management Regulations, winners must claim prizes at designated locations within 60 calendar days from the draw date; failure to do so results in forfeiture. Lottery agency investigations found that the main reasons for unclaimed prizes were winners failing to check tickets promptly or correctly, as well as damaged or lost winning tickets. Small-denomination prizes of RMB 5 and RMB 10 accounted for a significant share of the unclaimed amounts.
The purpose of lottery sales is to raise funds for social welfare, known as lottery public welfare funds, which include a proportion of ticket sales revenue and unclaimed prize money. Ministry of Finance data show that about RMB 162.1 billion in lottery public welfare funds was raised in 2025, up about 0.7% year on year, representing 26% of the year's ticket sales revenue of approximately RMB 628 billion. The funds are allocated equally between central and local governments, with 50% each, and are used exclusively for social welfare, sports, and other public welfare initiatives. The central government's share is distributed among the National Social Security Fund, central special lottery public welfare funds, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the General Administration of Sport, at ratios of 60%, 30%, 5%, and 5%, respectively.
Ministry of Finance data show that in 2025, central government lottery public welfare funds collected and deposited into the treasury amounted to RMB 80.705 billion, plus RMB 7.894 billion carried over from 2024, totaling RMB 88.599 billion. After approval by the National People's Congress, the central government arranged RMB 70.215 billion in lottery public welfare fund expenditures for 2025. Of this, RMB 41.784 billion was allocated to the National Council for Social Security Fund to supplement the national social security fund; RMB 21.467 billion was allocated to central special lottery public welfare funds for social welfare projects approved by the State Council; RMB 3.482 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for programs supporting elderly welfare, disability welfare, and child welfare; and RMB 3.482 billion was allocated to the General Administration of Sport to implement the national fitness strategy, enhance competitive sports capabilities, and advance the building of a sporting powerhouse.
The allocation of central special lottery public welfare funds has been specified. Of the RMB 21.467 billion, about RMB 11.25 billion will support local social welfare development projects, mainly in regions with relatively lagging social welfare development, such as Tibet, Xinjiang, and former revolutionary base areas; RMB 2.52 billion for disability services projects; RMB 2.4 billion for rural revitalization projects in former revolutionary base areas; RMB 1.2 billion for home and community basic elderly care service improvement projects; and RMB 1 billion for education assistance projects.