Unauthorized online lotteries banned

China's fast-growing online lottery sector is likely to face a radical reshuffle after regulators tightened their grip on the yet-unregulated industry.

In a rare move, the Ministry of Finance, along with seven other ministries and government agencies, issued a joint announcement last Friday saying it planned to ban unauthorized online lottery sales.

The ministry pointed to "rampant irregularities" in online lottery sales and said that organizations have been offering services without official authorization.