BEIJING - China's lottery sales reached 309.33 billion yuan ($50.66 billion) in 2013, up 18.3 percent year on year, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday.

Welfare lottery sales amounted to 176.53 billion yuan, an increase of 16.9 percent year on year, and sports lottery sales rose 20.2 percent year on year to 132.80 billion yuan.

The ministry attributed the jump in sales to new lottery products going on sale, promotion of quiz-style games and more outlets for online lottery games.

Money raised through lotteries is used for the jackpot, management fees and public lottery funds.

Lottery sales in December alone reached 30.28 billion yuan, up 13 percent year on year. Welfare lottery sales last month hit 17.63 billion yuan, up 17.1 percent year on year. Sports lottery sales in December rose 7.7 percent year on year to reach 12.64 billion yuan.