Chinese Lottery Digitisation Project Secures Thirty Million Pound Boost for UK Investment Firm

Sir Nigel Rudd’s Intuitive Investments Group has successfully raised thirty million pounds in equity funding for a landmark initiative to digitise the Chinese lottery system. The British firm, which listed on Aim in December 2020 initially with a focus on life sciences, has redirected its strategic efforts by backing Beijing-based Hui10 as its primary venture. Hui10 aims to convert China’s traditional paper lottery system into a comprehensive digital platform, positioning itself at the forefront of one of the world’s largest untapped lottery markets.

The funding, from Helikon Investments, is set to be allocated towards the national rollout of Hui10’s technology, advancing China from an inefficient paper-based model to a robust digital solution. Currently, physical lottery tickets reach only about ten percent of adults in China, a figure considerably lower than the one third of adults typically engaged in western economies. Analysts predict that the successful digitisation of China’s lottery market could propel ticket sales to over two hundred billion dollars, a near tripling from present levels of approximately seventy billion dollars generated by paper ticket sales.

Under the guidance of Rudd, Intuitive Investments Group has seen the value of Hui10 grow to comprise over ninety seven percent of its portfolio. Rudd commented that Helikon’s investment, together with official support from the China Financial Certification Authority, confirms Hui10’s vital role in transforming the country’s lottery and supporting broader sports development initiatives.

Hui10’s platform is already integrated with China’s national interbank card settlement system UnionPay, enhancing both payment security and convenience. As part of its expansion strategy, Hui10 intends to utilise a network of two hundred thousand small shops for click and collect services and home delivery, complemented by a loyalty scheme where points are converted to digital lottery tickets.

The investment will be disbursed in phases, contingent on Hui10 achieving set milestones in its digital rollout. Analysts at Zeus Capital expect the initial two tranches of five million and seven and a half million pounds to be received within three months, with the final tranche of seventeen and a half million pounds dependent upon regulatory approval from the Chinese Ministry of Finance for a nationwide launch. This structure is anticipated to provide Hui10 with sufficient capital to reach cash generation by late twenty twenty six.

The announcement spurred shares in Intuitive Investments Group to climb by ten pence, nearly ten percent, giving the company a market capitalisation of nearly two hundred and twenty five million pounds. Notably, Frank Li Tong, Hui10’s co founder and joint chief executive, retains a sixteen point eight percent stake in IIG, while Coral Group Holding, operated under FTSE one hundred group Entain, maintains a stake just above ten percent.

Sir Nigel Rudd brings a wealth of experience to the project, having built a reputation through leading roles across several major British companies. His career spans positions at Alliance Boots, Meggitt, Heathrow, Barclays and the Business Growth Fund. Intuitive Investments Group appears poised to play a central part in the digital revolution of China’s lottery landscape.