Revenue from lotteries should be spent on helping all people in need, says an article in Spring City Evening. The following is an excerpt:

According to latest reports, the central government will earmark 300 million yuan ($39.5 million) to help 300,000 students whose families have difficulty supporting them. The money will come from the lotteries welfare fund.

In the last two decades, several lotteries have been held in the country with State consent. But the revenue mostly went to support the civil affairs and sports development since the General Administration of Sports and Ministry of Civil Affairs are responsible for running the lotteries.

The central government has realized the revenue from lotteries should go to all in need, instead of just a few. So it has decided to spend the fund on more areas and students are among the first beneficiaries.

Previously corruption cases have been reported in departments receiving revenue from the lotteries.

Many people buy lottery tickets not only in the hope of winning huge prizes, but also to help the needy.

Their kindness would be abused if the malpractice in issuing lottery, selling lottery and using of lottery revenue is not checked.

Strict supervision and punishment of the violators would help stop the abuse of lottery revenue.

The management of lotteries needs to be changed. It needs to run by independent institutions under the supervision of the government. Revenue from lotteries need to be carefully watched.

(China Daily December 26, 2007)