Vietnam lottery prepares mobile sales pilot after strong H1

The Vietnam Lottery Company (Vietlott) will launch a pilot programme for SMS-based sales of its products in the second half of 2020, after seeing sales in the first half of the year grow to VND2.3tn (£78.9m/€83.6m/$98.9m).

Total sales for the six months to 30 June were up 55.2% year-on-year, with Vietlott products currently sold in 59 of the country’s 63 provinces. From this total, it paid out VND1.3tn in winnings, of which VND600bn comprised jackpots, and VND700bn other cash prizes.

This saw its return to society, in the form of sales, lottery and value added taxes, rise to VND700m.

In the third quarter, it aims to launch in Hậu Giang and Yên Bái, taking the total number of provinces in which its products are sold to 61. This means it is only awaiting approval to launch in Đồng Tháp and Cao Bằng before its games are available in every region of Vietnam.

Q4 will then see Vielott expand into digital sales, partnering mobile network operators Vinaphone, Mobifone and Viettel, subject to approval by the country’s Ministry of Finance. From this expansion it aims to generate sales of more than VND4.0tn, with its contribution to state coffers expected to rise to VND1.2tn.

Since Vietlott took charge of the country’s national lottery in 2016, sales have totalled VND16.0tn, with around VND8.8tn paid back to players as winnings. This has seen VND4.5tn paid out to provinces and municipalities to invest in health, education, climate change prevention and social welfare projects.

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