Gambling
Hong Kong being an advanced digital city also increases the chance of young people coming into contact with illegal gambling opportunities. Hong Kong people have the highest mobile internet usage rate in the Asia Pacific region, amongst them many are students. Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) holds a government-granted monopoly on all gambling involving horse races, football matches, and lottery. Bets made through HKJC approved channels are legal. Mahjong is covered separately in the law and poker is a gray area (mostly considered illegal). Registration No Deposit Bonus Hong Kong Legal Gambling Age - Sloto Cash Casino Available in New York Wagering requirements: 60x Maximal bet: $10 You should get this bonus relatively FAST; When you roll-over the bonus the initial bonus value Hong Kong Legal Gambling Age. In 2002, the Hong Kong Legislative Council banned offshore gambling, including offshore internet gambling, by passing the Gambling (Amendment) Ordinance. The Gambling Ordinance was enacted in 1977 to regulate gambling in Hong Kong. People are allowed gamble for leisure and entertainment within these regulations at a limited number of authorized outlets. Social gambling is still allowed.
- Message from the Chairman, Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee (December 2012)
Gambling Policy
The Home Affairs Bureau is responsible for formulating gambling policy and monitoring its implementation. Hitherto, the gambling policy is to restrict gambling opportunities to a limited number of authorized and regulated outlets. At present, such authorized gambling outlets include horse racing organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club , the Mark Six Lottery, authorized football betting and gaming activities authorized by the public officer appointed by the Secretary for Home Affairs under the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148) (e.g. mahjong parlours).
The rationale behind this policy is two-fold. First, while we recognize that there is always a demand for gambling, the conduct of gambling activities should be authorized and regulated. This is because unregulated gambling activities can lead to a number of social problems - frauds, underage gambling, loan sharking, etc. - and become a potential source of income for triad and criminal activities. Second, since it is impossible to reconcile the different views in the community on the extent to which authorized gambling outlets should be allowed to exist, a compromise approach is to allow only a limited number of authorized gambling outlets, the purpose of which is to satisfy substantial and persistent public demand for gambling which would otherwise turn to illegal operators.
Gambling Legislation
Under the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148), all gambling activities are illegal except those expressly authorized by the Government under the Betting Duty Ordinance (Cap. 108) (i.e. authorized horse racing, authorized football betting and the Mark Six Lottery), those licensed by the public officers appointed by the Secretary for Home Affairs (e.g. mahjong parlours) and those exempted under Section 3 of the Gambling Ordinance (mainly social gambling).
Betting and Lotteries Commission
With effect from 15 August 2006, the name of the Football Betting and Lotteries Commission was changed to the Betting and Lotteries Commission, and the functions of the Commission expanded to include advising the Secretary for Home Affairs on the regulation of the conduct of betting on horse racing as well as compliance with licensing conditions by the licensee. Details of the terms of reference and membership of the Commission are as follows :
Terms of reference
To advise the Secretary for Home Affairs on the following aspects -
- regulation of the conduct of horse race betting, football betting and lotteries in accordance with the provisions of the Betting Duty Ordinance and the licensing conditions;
- compliance with the licensing conditions by the licensees;
- handling of public complaints relating to the compliance of the licensing conditions by the licensees;
- imposition of financial penalties on the licensees; and
- issuance and revocation of horse race betting, football betting and lottery licences; and variation of the conditions of such licences.
Chairman
Mr FONG Man-hung, David, BBS, JP
Non-official Members
Dr. CHAN Po-ling
Mr FOK Kai-kong, Kenneth, JP
Ms. FUNG Dun-mi, Amy, MH
Rev HO Chi-dik
Mr LAI Tat-shing
Hon LAU Kwok-fan, MH
Ms LEUNG Fung-yee, Fonnie
Mr. LING Ho-wan, Howard, MH
Ms LU Hai, BBS, MH, JP
Mr WAN Siu-kin, Andrew
Mr. WONG Hin-wing
Official Members
Commissioner of Police or his representative
Permanent Secretary for Education or his representative
Director of Home Affairs or her representative
Meeting of the Commission
| 1st meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 2nd meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 3rd meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 4th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 5th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 6th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| Special Meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| : | Meeting Minutes (PDF) | ||
| - | Written submissions (1) (PDF) | ||
| - | Written submissions (2) (PDF) | ||
| - | Written submissions (3) (PDF) | ||
| - | Written submissions (4) (PDF) | ||
| 7th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 8th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 9th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 10th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 11th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 12th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 13th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 14th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 15th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 16th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 17th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 18th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 19th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 20th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 21st meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| Public Consultation Session | : | The Betting and Lotteries Commission (BLC) invited the public to submit written comments on Hong Kong Jockey Club's proposals on horse racing activities, through its secretariat in the Home Affairs Bureau. As of March 31, 2016, BLC received 69 submissions by the organisations, and the 58 submissions from individuals, . A public consultation session was held on March 29. Organisations and individuals who had submitted written submissions might also attend and speak at the public consultation session to present their views to BLC in person. Please click here (Chinese version only) for the summary of comments received at the public consultation session. | |
| 22nd meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 23rd meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 24th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 25th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 26th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 27th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 28th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 29th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
| 30th meeting | : | Agenda (PDF) | |
Hong Kong Casinos
Submission of views on the proposal of increasing the number of simulcast days
The Betting and Lotteries Commission invited members of the public to submit views on Hong Kong Jockey Club’s proposal of increasing the number of simulcast days. For details, please click here.
Complaints and comments
If you have any complaints and comments regarding the regulation of authorized betting and lotteries, please contact us through the following channels:
| - | E-mail: hab3@hab.gov.hk |
| - | Fax: 2591 6002 |
| - | Mail: Civic Affairs Division (3), Home Affairs Bureau, 13/F, West Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. |
| - | Telephone: 2591 6690 |
The Ping Wo Fund
The Government established The Ping Wo Fund in September 2003 to finance preventive and remedial measures to address the gambling-related problems. From 2019/20, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has undertaken to contribute $45 million each year within a four-year period. The Fund also welcomes donations from the public. For cheque and cash donations:
- Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC) account number “502-407851-001”. Cheques should be made payable to “The Secretary for Home Affairs Incorporated – The Ping Wo Fund”. For more details of the Fund and the programme schedules, please visit http://www.donotgamble.org.hk.
The major ambits of The Ping Wo Fund are to finance the following measures:
- research and studies into problems and issues relating to gambling;
- public education and other measures to prevent or alleviate problems relating to gambling;
- counselling, treatment and other remedial or support services for problem and pathological gamblers and those affected by them.
A Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee has been established to give advice on the use and application of the Fund. The membership of the Committee is as follows:
Chairperson
Mr YIP Chun-to, Adrian, B.B.S., M.H., J.P.
Ex-officio Members
Representative of Secretary for Home Affairs
Representative of Secretary for Education
Representative of Director of Social Welfare
Non-official Members
Mr CHAN Chun-chung
Mr CHAN Ho-ting, Mac
Ms CHAN Wing-man
Dr CHEN Yuk-lun, Ronald
Ms CHENG Michelle
Mr CHIU Ka-yin, Andrew
Mr CHONG Yan-kit, Sam
Miss HO Ching-wai, Cherene
Ms LEUNG Fung-yee, Fonnie
Mr NG Chak-hang, Matthew
Dr POON Yin-kwong, Johannes
Miss WONG Sze-sze
Meeting of the Advisory Committee
| 1st meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 2nd meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 3rd meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 4th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 5th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 6th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 7th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 8th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 9th meeting | - | Agenda (Chinese version only) (PDF) |
| 10th meeting | - | Agenda (Chinese version only) (PDF) |
| 11th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 12th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 13th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 14th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 15th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 16th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 17th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 18th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 19th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 20th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 21st meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 22nd meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 23rd meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 24th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 25th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 26th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 27th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 28th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 29th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 30th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 31st meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 32nd meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 33rd meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 34th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 35th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 36th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 37th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 38th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 39th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 40th meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
| 41st meeting | - | Agenda (PDF) |
Research and studies on gambling-related issues and problems
We have commissioned academic institutes to conduct research and studies on Hong Kong People's participation in gambling activities. (for report, press here ).
Counselling and treatment as well as other remedial services for gamblers with gambling disorder
Four dedicated counselling and treatment centres for gamblers with gambling disorder financed by The Ping Wo Fund are being operated by Caritas, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Zion Social Service Limited and Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service respectively. The first two centres operated by Caritas and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals commenced service since October 2003 whereas the two other centres operated by Zion Social Service Limited and Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service commenced service in 2007 and 2010 respectively. The four centres also provide gambling counselling hotline service (telephone number: 1834 633).
The four centres provide specialised counselling and treatment services for gamblers with gambling disorder and their family members. The four centres will also facilitate the development of the best practices for remedial services and screening of gamblers with gambling disorder in Hong Kong, and collect data and statistics for the sake of enhancing understanding about the behaviour and risk factors of gamblers with gambling disorder.
Project i-Change: a new stepped-care-approach for problem gamblers
The Project i-Change, which features a virtual counsellor, is a pilot project funded by the Ping Wo Fund and operated by Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong with an aim to fill the gap of existing operation hours of counselling services by providing simulated counselling support service to problem gamblers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As an artificial intelligence computer programme developed by a team of multi-disciplinary versatile professionals, the virtual counsellor serves as an initial contact point to offer preliminary advice and encourage problem gamblers for further telephone and face-to-face counselling.
- Project i-Change (Chinese Version Only)
Ping Wo Fund Sponsorship Scheme 2020-21
The Ping Wo Fund Sponsorship Scheme, administered by the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee, aims to provide sponsorship to community organisations to organise public education programmes/activities to prevent and alleviate gambling-related problems. The application for the Ping Wo Fund Sponsorship Scheme 2020-21 was closed on 16 September 2020.
Ping Wo Fund School Project Grants 2020-21
Online Gambling Hong Kong Legalization
The Ping Wo Fund School Project Grants administered by the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee aims to provide sponsorship to schools to organise educational projects/activities on prevention or alleviation of gambling-related problems among students. The application for the 2020-21 Ping Wo Fund School Project Grants was closed on 15 June 2020.
Hong Kong Legal System
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