Gambling Ordinance Hong Kong

7/8/2022 admin

All types of gambling are legal in Hong Kong but the government keeps a very close eye on what’s happening and regulations are tight.

CobraCasino is powered by software provider Softswiss, which can be found in most modern casinos. This platform Hong Kong Gambling Ordinance covers more than 30 game developers, including names such as NetEnt, Spinomenal, Habanero.

That being said offshore operators do offer online gambling to residents of the country which we’ll detail below along with a full overview of the situation and rundown of all key laws relating to online and offline gambling.

Betting Sites Available In Honk Kong:

We only know of one betting site available to use if you’re a resident in Hong Kong and that’s 188bet.

T&C’s apply – 18+

Key Facts: Online Gambling In Hong Kong

The laws of Hong Kong apply uniformly across Hong Kong. 2.13 What is the relevant limitation period to recognise and enforce a foreign judgment? Under common law, a judgment creditor has 12 years from the date on which the foreign judgment became enforceable to commence fresh proceedings in Hong Kong to recover the judgment sum as a debt. Hong Kong Jockey Club Mark Six Lottery Mahjong parlours Gambling Policy The Home Affairs Bureau is responsible for formulating gambling policy and monitoring its implementation. In Hong Kong, the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148), which regulates gaming activities, was enacted in 1977 and was amended several times between 1980 and 2006. It is the Government's policy not to encourage gambling. Accounts' by any Hong Kong incorporated company, as set out in section 436 of the new Hong Kong Companies Ordinance, Cap. Hereafter, all references to sections or schedules are to those of the CO unless otherwise stated. Section 436 replaces the requirements of section 129C(1) and (3) of the predecessor Hong Kong.

Online betting and gambling legal with licensed operators (since 2006).
Football betting (soccer) is the most popular with punters.
Legal gambling age is 18+.
Overseas providers legal with a license (current non exist)
Offshore operators continue to serve customers in the market.

Gambling Legislation & Laws

Often the best way to understand the legal situation surrounding gambling in any given country is to look back through the legislation passed over the years. The following timeline allows you to do just that for Hong Kong’s gambling industry:

1977 – The Gambling Ordinance

It was in 1977 under the Gambling Ordinance that gambling was first legalised and regulated in Hong Kong.

That piece of legislation determined that gambling was only legal in certain licensed gambling establishments and established a monopoly over lotteries, horse racing betting and other sports betting for the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

2002 – The Gambling (Amendment) Ordinance

In 2002, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed the Gambling (Amendment) Ordinance. This piece of legislation banned all offshore gambling, including offshore internet gambling but did allow for the Hong Kong Jockey Club to offer some online gambling services in the shape of selling lottery tickets and providing horse racing and football betting.

It was this legislation, too, which set down the potential punishments for anyone found operating or using illegal offshore and internet gambling services. These are that representatives of providers can be jailed for up to seven years and the company fined $5 million HKD, and that users of the services can be imprisoned for up to nine months and fined $30,000 HKD.

2014 – Home Affairs Bureau Announcement

In spite of the 2002 legislation, overseas online gambling operators continued to cater for Hong Kong citizens. Whilst this is illegal and the Hong Kong authorities do not condone it, the Home Affairs Bureau did state in 2014 that they would not seek to block access to unlicensed betting websites.

Tax On Winnings?

Another important element of any country’s legal stance on gambling is how the activity is viewed when it comes to tax. In Hong Kong, the situation is mercifully simple as there is currently no mechanism at all for punters to be taxed on their winnings.

In the case of legal gambling provided through licensed establishments and organisations such as the Hong Kong Jockey Club, it is those companies who are taxed and not their customers. When it comes to punters who use illegal online gambling sites, too, the Hong Kong authorities have no way of levying tax on winnings. They can, however, prosecute individuals who do take part in illegal gambling and impose prison sentences and fines.

Deposit Methods: What Works?

Most Hong Kong banks and credit card providers do not allow their customers to deposit to illegal overseas gambling providers. As such, credit or debit card deposits often have sporadic success.

Instead, many of those punters choose to deposit with their chosen sites through e-wallet services such as Skrill or Neteller. These services offer a kind of buffer between the gambling sites and a customer’s bank, and in many cases it is only the name of the e-wallet which shows up on a bank statement and not where the money ultimately goes.

Gambling

Hong Kong Casino Ships

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

Hong Kong Gambling Ordinance

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
Ms HO Yee-lin, Elaine
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
Hon 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

1^st meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
2^nd meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
3^rd meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
4^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
5^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
6^th 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)
7^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
8^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
9^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
10^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
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18^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
19^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
20^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
21^st 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.
22^nd meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
23^rd meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
24^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
25^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
26^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
27^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
28^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
29^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)
30^th meeting	:	Agenda (PDF)

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

1^st meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
2^nd meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
3^rd meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
4^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
5^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
6^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
7^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
8^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
9^th meeting	-	Agenda (Chinese version only) (PDF)
10^th meeting	-	Agenda (Chinese version only) (PDF)
11^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
12^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
13^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
14^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
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35^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
36^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
37^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
38^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
39^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
40^th meeting	-	Agenda (PDF)
41^st 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.

Hong Kong Casinos

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

Labour Ordinance Hong Kong

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.