2010-08-11 16:22

A Shanghai lottery winner harvested 259 million yuan ($38 million) on Tuesday from 200 yuan when he bought five tickets, the local Xinmin Evening News reported Wednesday.

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The five tickets, with sequential serial numbers, were purchased at one place – the No 1556 lottery station on Dalian road of Shanghai's Yangpu district.

The lucky winner's takings is second only to those of a Henan native, who spent just 176 yuan to buy 88 lottery tickets and won a record 359.9 million yuan in October 2009.

Lottery tickets are sold on the Chinese mainland to raise money for government welfare services and sports development.

Winners are required to collect their takings within two months after paying 20 percent tax on the winnings.