World Cup lottery apps halt bets

With the World Cup now in full swing in Russia, dozens of football lottery apps emerged to attract fans eager to try their luck with a bet. But since Tuesday, fans have found that all lottery apps have been withdrawn from the market, reports Beijing Youth Daily.

China Sports Lottery is the only authorized World Cup lottery agency. [Photo: lottery.gov.cn]

Using lottery apps, users could bet on the winning team or for the scores of each match. Some apps set minimum bets, and some advertised long odds to encourage users to bet more heavily.

China Sports Lottery, the only authorized World Cup lottery agency, has said that online lotteries need special regulatory approval, and that the only authorized lotteries are run out of China Sports Lottery's physical stores.

China Sports Lottery has also issued a reminder to the general public that all World Cup lottery apps, and WeChat and QQ lottery groups, are illegal. They have encouraged users to report illegal lotteries to local police or regulators.