Liu Lin studies the past winning numbers of China’s state-run lotteries in Beijing at 11 p.m. on Aug. 6. Photo: Li Congxun, intern reporter/Caixin

A lottery store owner assembles scratch cards into a bouquet for her customer at 9 p.m. on Aug. 7. Some 273.9 billion yuan of lottery tickets and scratch cards were sold from January to June this year, up by 50.4% from the same period last year, data from the Ministry of Finance showed. Photo: Li Congxun, intern reporter/Caixin

A group of young people play scratch cards on a small table at a lottery store at 6 p.m. on Aug. 7. Among the various types of lotteries, instant win games such as scratch cards recorded sales of 51.02 billion yuan in the first half of this year, an increase of 51.5% from the same period last year. Photo: Li Congxun, intern reporter/Caixin

Players rub off their scratch cards in a lottery store next to a subway station. Photo: Li Congxun, intern reporter/Caixin

A resident buy scratch cards at a store at 9 p.m. With a starting price as low as 5 yuan, scratch cards have gained popularity among young buyers as a form of thrill-seeking fun. Photo: Li Congxun, intern reporter/Caixin

Players chat inside a lottery store. Photo: Li Congxun, intern reporter/Caixin

One player checks whether her scratch card is a win or loss around 8 p.m. on July 21. Photo: Li Congxun, intern reporter/Caixin

A lottery store clerk cleans up the counter using discarded scratch cards. Photo: Li Congxun, intern reporter/Caixin

Young buyers select scratch cards at a lottery store in Beijing’s Hopson One Mall. Photo: Li Congxun, intern reporter/Caixin