China's lottery sales in October hit 32.7 billion yuan ($5.34 billion), up 20.3 percent year on year, the Ministry of Finance said on November 27.

Welfare lottery sales reached 17.75 billion yuan ($2.81 billion), up 14.5 percent year on year. Sports lottery sales rose 27.9 percent year on year to 14.95 billion yuan ($2.37 billion).

In the first 10 months of 2014, total lottery sales stood at 312.11 billion yuan ($51.13), up 24 percent from a year earlier.

Under China's lottery management rules, proceeds from lottery ticket sales cover administrative fees and public welfare projects as well as the jackpot.

Last year, total lottery sales topped 309 billion yuan ($49), up 18.3 percent year on year, ministry data shows.