Gambling in Hong Kong

Gambling in Hong Kong has been regulated since 1977 when the Gambling Ordinance was enacted in response to frequent gambling in Hong Kong.[1] People gamble in a controlled way as a form of leisure and entertainment. Gamblers that gamble as an obsession are known as "problem gamblers".[2] An organization known as the Hong Kong Jockey Club has a goal to promoting responsible gambling practices among those who gamble and to minimizing the negative effects of problem gambling. The Club plans on providing social, responsible betting to meet their goal.[3] The Club looks for a balance between meeting the demand for gambling and maximizing the social and economic benefits of gambling for the community, while helping to minimize potential harm to the individual and the community.[4]

History

The Hong Kong Government policy is to restrict gambling, other than social gambling, to a limited number of controlled authorized outlets. By doing this the public demand for gambling is being met, and regulation is confirming that gambling opportunities are not excessive.[5] Gambling is illegal in the city except through the Hong Kong Jockey Club which takes bets on horse races, football matches, and a lottery. The Club is Hong Kong's largest single tax payer, and it is Hong Kong's largest employer.[6]

Illegal and legal gambling

Gambling is illegal in Hong Kong when a bookmaker is involved.[7] Betting with a bookmaker and betting in a place other than a gambling establishment is an offense. Illegal gambling is money that doesn't get put on taxes in Hong Kong, and it makes no contributions to Hong Kong charities.[8] Legal gambling is only possible through the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has a website that allows for bets to be made on different teams, or bets can be placed over the phone by calling the Club.[9]

Charities

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a not-for-profit organization. By being this type of organization all of the funds are sent to charities, community agencies, and projects.[10] The Hong Kong Jockey Club has a separate company that focuses only on charities. The name is the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and in the 2008/2009 year the club donated a total of HK$1.37 billion.[11] For more than a decade The Trust has donated at an average of more than HK$1 billion each year. The club has four main areas of civic and social needs that the contributions go to, and they include:

Recent news in gambling

During the 2010 World Cup police arrested 25 people for having an illegal gambling ring that took bets on World Cup matches worth more than 66 million Hong Kong dollars. Earlier in the year the Hong Kong police set up a task force to help stop illegal football gambling.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Deans, R. (2001). Online gambling: changes to Hong Kong's gambling legislation. Gaming Law Review., 5(6), Retrieved from http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/109218801753336166?journalCode=glr doi:10.1089/109218801753336166
  2. ↑ The Hong Kong jockey club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/corp_rgp.asp
  3. ↑ The Hong Kong Jockey Club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/corp_rgp.asp
  4. ↑ The Hong Kong Jockey Club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/corp_rgp.asp
  5. ↑ The Hong Kong jockey club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/corp_rgp.asp
  6. ↑ Qiaoyi , L. (2009, November 4). Hong Kong jockey club riding high. Retrieved from http://business.globaltimes.cn/comment/2009-11/482327.html
  7. ↑ The Hong Kong jockey club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/corp_rgp.asp
  8. ↑ The Hong Kong jockey club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hkjc.com/english/corporate/corp_rgp.asp
  9. ↑ The Hong Kong jockey club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://special.hkjc.com/infomenu/en/channel/overview.asp
  10. ↑ The Hong Kong jockey club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hkjc.com/english/charity/charity_trust.asp
  11. ↑ The Hong Kong jockey club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hkjc.com/english/charity/charity_trust.asp
  12. ↑ The Hong Kong jockey club. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hkjc.com/english/charity/charity_trust.asp
  13. ↑ Hong Kong police smash illegal world cup betting ring. (2010, June 13). Asia Pacific News, Retrieved from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1062884/1/.html

External links