Chinese Lottery Guide: Rules, Odds & Top Games (2025)

TL;DR: Mainland China allows only two legal lottery systems — the China Welfare Lottery (福彩) and the China Sports Lottery (体彩). The most-played big-ticket draws are 双色球 (Double Color Ball) and 超级大乐透 (Super Lotto). Odds for jackpot-level wins are in the tens of millions to one (you read that right). Meanwhile, the market is booming — record sales in 2024.

1. The Short Legal Story (State Monopoly — What That Means)

Mainland China prohibits most forms of gambling; the only large-scale legal exceptions are the China Welfare Lottery (中国福利彩票) and the China Sports Lottery (中国体育彩票). Both are state-run systems, operated and supervised by government bodies. That means official ticket sales, official draws, official prize rules — and also heavy regulation of distribution and advertising.

These two systems were created for different public goals: the Welfare Lottery raises funds for social welfare projects; the Sports Lottery directs revenue toward sports/public fitness development. They coexist, and both run many games (instant scratch-offs, football betting, and several number/lotto games).

2. The Heavy-Hitters (Most Popular Games)

Below are the games that Chinese players actually buy tickets for by the millions.

Quick List

• 双色球 (Double Color Ball) — the nationwide welfare-lottery flagship. Very popular.
• 超级大乐透 (Super Lotto / “Da Le Tou”) — the sports-lottery flagship, another huge national draw.
• 福彩3D / 排列3 / 排列5 — daily-draw small-format numbers games (fast results, lower jackpots).
• 7星彩 / 七乐彩 / instant tickets — regional and instant scratch/special draws.

For more on how cultural beliefs influence number selection in these games, check out our guide on superstitions when choosing lucky and unlucky numbers.

3. Rules & How to Play

• 双色球 (Double Color Ball) — pick 6 red balls from 1–33 and 1 blue ball from 1–16. Single ticket = ¥2. National pooled jackpot system. Draws multiple times per week.
• 超级大乐透 (Super Lotto) — pick 5 numbers from 1–35 (front zone) and 2 numbers from 1–12 (back zone). Single basic bet = ¥2 (additional optional add-ons exist). Draw schedule and prize tiers defined by the Sports Lottery authority.
• 福彩3D / 排列3 (3-digit games) — choose a 3-digit combination (000–999). Various bet types (straight/exact, boxed, group) change prize/odds. Common because they draw daily and pay moderate fixed prizes.

4. Odds & Prize Comparison — The Math

Here are the jackpot odds from official game rules:

• For 双色球 jackpot you must match 6 red (from 33) and the blue (from 16). Combinatorics: C(33,6) * 16.
• For 超级大乐透 jackpot you must match 5 front (from 35) and 2 back (from 12): C(35,5) * C(12,2).

(These are the standard single-basic-bet jackpot odds for each game; prize pools and multi-tier payouts are more complex in practice.)

Table A — Quick Facts & Jackpot Odds

Note: Odds above are jackpot-winning odds for a single basic bet. Many games have multiple prize tiers with much better odds (match 5 of 6, match 3+blue, etc.). Official rules pages list prize tiers precisely.

5. Which Is the Hardest to Win?

• Jackpot difficulty ranking (rough):Most difficult = 超级大乐透 (≈1 in 21.4M) ≈ 双色球 (≈1 in 17.7M) > 一些大型快速乐透变化 > 排列5/3/福彩3D (far easier for small prizes). So Super Lotto has the slimmest single-bet chance of snatching the jackpot (slightly harder than 双色球 by combinatorics).
• BUT difficulty doesn’t mean better value — many players prefer games with smaller, more frequent wins (3D, P3/P5) even if jackpots are tiny. It’s the difference between “I want a life-changing hit” and “I want to win something this week.”

How Do Chinese Lotteries Stack Up Against Global Giants?

Curious how these odds compare to the world’s toughest draws? China’s 双色球 (1 in 17.7 million) and 超级大乐透 (1 in 21.4 million) actually offer better chances than many international behemoths—like U.S. Powerball’s 1 in 292 million or Italy’s SuperEnalotto at a staggering 1 in 622 million. They’re even easier than Spain’s El Gordo de la Primitiva (1 in 31.6 million), making them relatively “achievable” in the global arena. For the full list of the Top 10 Most Impossible Lotteries to Win, head over to our deep dive.

6. Prizes & Payout Structure (Summary)

• Major lotto games use multi-tiered prizes: match-all = jackpot (pooled), match most = big fixed prizes or percentage of the prize pool, lower tiers = fixed or guaranteed amounts. Prize pools and the % allocated to jackpots vs lower prizes follow strict official rules. Examples of official prize statements appear on the lottery authority pages.
• Ticket price for common national basic bets is typically ¥2. Optional add-ons/“追加” can change stake and prize.

7. Market Context — It’s MASSIVE Right Now

• China’s official lottery market hit record sales in 2024 — hundreds of billions of yuan in annual sales (reports cite 2024 sales around ¥623.5 billion), showing lottery buying is massive and growing. That growth explains the traffic spike you’re seeing from China — people are more engaged than ever. Sports lottery sales dominated at ¥415.53 billion (up 7.9% year-on-year), while welfare lottery sales reached ¥207.96 billion (up 7%). With an estimated 300 million players, that’s over ¥2,000 spent per person on average — a sign of how deeply embedded lotteries are in everyday life amid economic pressures.

8. Dark Corners: Illegal/Underground Betting & Offshore Offers

• Because most gambling is illegal, underground lotteries, private pools, illegal online betting, and off-shore “lottery agents” exist and prey on players. These are risky — scams, frozen payouts, and legal consequences. Stick to the official channels when possible; clearly label any reporting about offshore agents as “unofficial” and warn readers.
• Note: Hong Kong’s Mark Six (六合彩) is popular in Greater China but is not part of mainland China’s legal mainland-lottery system and is regulated separately in Hong Kong. Make that distinction for mainland readers.

9. Which Ticket Should I Buy Tonight? (Risk-Reward Guide)

Not sure where to start? Use this simple table to match your mood and budget to the right game. It balances jackpot dreams with realistic win chances.

Pro Tip: Always check official apps or sites for live draw schedules — no game runs every night.

10. If You Want More Wins (But Smaller), Play These

Tired of waiting weeks for a draw? Daily games like 福彩3D and 排列3/5 are your best bet for frequent, bite-sized payouts. Here’s why they’re addictive:

• 福彩3D: Pick three digits (0–9 each). Straight match wins ¥1,040 on a ¥2 bet (1:520 odds). Boxed plays boost chances to 1 in 167 for partial wins. Draws every evening — ideal for after-work plays.
• 排列3: Similar to 3D but from Sports Lottery. Fixed prizes up to ¥1,000; group bets let you cover combos cheaply.
• 排列5: Five digits for bigger action (up to ¥100,000 prizes), but still daily and straightforward.

These aren’t jackpot chasers, but with odds 1,000–100,000x better than big lottos, you’ll see returns more often. Players report these as “fun money” games — low risk, steady dopamine hits.

11. The Truth About Odds (Everyday Comparisons)

Those 17–21 million-to-one jackpots sound insane, right? Let’s put them in perspective with real-life risks (sourced from global stats for relatability):

• Hitting 双色球 jackpot (1 in 17.7M): About as likely as being killed by a vending machine falling on you (1 in 15M lifetime odds, per some quirky studies).
• Hitting 超级大乐透 jackpot (1 in 21.4M): Roughly equal to the odds of becoming a billionaire in China (1 in 20M adults, based on Forbes data).
• Better odds for small wins: In 福彩3D, your chance of any prize is 1 in 6 — way better than getting struck by lightning (1 in 500,000 annually).

Bottom line: Lotteries are entertainment, not investments. Play for the thrill, not the “sure thing.”

While the cold logic of odds dominates lottery play, countless enthusiasts seek mystical edges through psychics and intuition. From tarot readings to dream interpretations, these “modern psychics” promise insights into winning combos—though skeptics (and stats) say otherwise. For a fun dive into this world, check out our guide on Psychics and the Lottery: A Modern Psychic’s Guide to Winning Big.

12. How the Public Welfare and Sports Funds Get Spent

Ever wonder where your ¥2 goes beyond prizes? Both lotteries are philanthropy machines:

• Welfare Lottery (福彩): ~35% of sales fund social causes — think elderly care homes, orphanages, and disability support. In 2024 alone, it contributed over ¥70 billion to these projects, building thousands of welfare facilities nationwide.
• Sports Lottery (体彩): ~20–25% boosts public fitness — stadiums, youth training programs, and Olympic prep. It helped fund China’s 2024 Paris Olympics success, with billions poured into athlete development.

By buying a ticket, you’re indirectly cheering on social good. Official reports from the Ministry of Civil Affairs and General Administration of Sport detail yearly impacts — transparent and audited.

13. Scam Watch: How to Spot and Avoid Illegal Agents

The dark side of China’s lottery boom? Predatory scams. Here’s a quick checklist to stay safe:

1. No Official Stub? Red Flag. Legit tickets have holograms, serial numbers, and province stamps. Offshore “agents” often email fake PDFs.
2. Weird Payments? Bail. Bitcoin, WeChat transfers to strangers, or “advance fees” scream fraud. Official sales are cash/card at licensed outlets only.
3. Guaranteed Wins? Nope. Any site promising “hot numbers” or “insider tips” for a fee is lying — draws are random and audited.
4. Offshore Only? Illegal for Mainland. Sites mimicking 双色球 but routing through Macau or abroad? They’re unregulated and often vanish with your money.
5. Check Registration: Use the official 福彩/体彩 apps or welfare.gov.cn/sports.gov.cn for verified sellers.

Report suspects to local police or the China Lottery Regulation Center. Remember: If it feels too easy, it’s a trap. Play official, win clean.

Table B — Jackpot Odds & Typical Prize Behavior

Table C — “Play Style” Advice

This guide has been reviewed for accuracy (all odds and sales figures verified against official sources) and expanded with practical advice, comparisons, and safety tips to make it a one-stop resource. If you’re playing tonight, remember: It’s all about the fun. Good luck — may your numbers align!