AGTech, SF Express launch lottery scratch ticket delivery service

China’s lottery players may not be able to purchase tickets online, but at least they no longer have to traipse down to the shops to scratch their lottery itch thanks to a new joint venture.

In April, Hong Kong-based lottery technology supplier AGTech Holdings announced a joint venture with Shenzhen-based SF Express Co Ltd, a leading courier delivery business. On Tuesday, the partners’ SF Lottery venture launched their new SF-Themed Instant Scratch Lottery product.

The product is unique in that customers receiving a parcel via an SF courier can purchase tickets directly from the courier. Customers can also place bulk orders for the SF tickets and have them couriered directly to their residence.

Even better, prizes can be redeemed by using the SF Financial app to scan the ticket’s QR code, sparing winners the long trek down to the closest lottery office. The hope is that the more easily accessible product will expand the potential market for instant scratch tickets, which accounted for RMB 28.5b (US $4.2b) in sales in 2016.