South Korea to pilot mobile lottery sales and reform lottery fund allocation

The government will introduce limited mobile Lotto purchases while advancing legislative changes to modernise the distribution of lottery proceeds.

South Korea.- The Korea Lottery Commission has confirmed that mobile lottery sales in South Korea will begin on a trial basis. The body will also propose amendments to the Lottery Act that would introduce greater flexibility in fund allocation.

Starting February 9, Lotto tickets will be available for purchase via smartphones through the Donghaeng Lottery website without requiring a dedicated mobile application. Mobile purchases will be limited to weekdays, with a per-person spending cap of KRW5,000 per draw, in line with existing online limits. Total online sales, including both PC and mobile transactions, will remain capped at 5 per cent of the previous year’s Lotto sales, a threshold that has historically been underutilised due to limited accessibility.

Alongside the expansion of digital access, the government plans to reform the statutory allocation system governing lottery proceeds. Under the current framework in place since 2004, 35 per cent of lottery revenues must be distributed to 10 designated institutions and funds, including local governments and sector-specific promotion funds. The proposed amendment would revise this requirement from a fixed 35 per cent to “within 35 per cent”, allowing authorities to adjust allocations in response to fiscal conditions and policy priorities.

The reform package also includes expanding the range for performance-based adjustments to individual funds from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. In addition, a sunset clause will be introduced to prevent automatic, long-term funding commitments, enabling future lottery revenues to be redirected more flexibly toward public-interest projects, including support for vulnerable groups.

According to acting Minister of Planning and Budget Lim Ki-geun, the measures are intended to modernise lottery participation while reinforcing the public-interest role of lottery revenues.

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The government will introduce limited mobile Lotto purchases while advancing legislative changes to modernise the distribution of lottery proceeds. South Korea.- The Korea Lottery Commission has confirmed that mobile lottery sales in South Korea will begin on a trial basis. The body will also propose amendments to the Lottery Act that would introduce greater flexibility…