BEIJING - China's welfare lottery sales topped 206.5 billion yuan ($30.1 billion) in 2016, an increase of 2.47 percent year on year.

National welfare funds obtained via the sales of tickets amounted to 59.1 billion yuan last year, up 4.97 percent year on year, according to a statement by the welfare lottery distribution and management center.

For the period of 1987-2016, lottery tickets worth more than 1.52 trillion yuan was sold, raising 475 billion yuan for national welfare funds.

According to current rules, half of the welfare proceeds go to the state coffer, and these funds are mainly used to supplement social security and special aid projects. The other half supports social welfare and charities managed by local governments.