The Gambling Ordinance was enacted in 1977 to regulate gambling in Hong Kong.^[1] People are allowed gamble for leisure and entertainment within these regulations at a limited number of authorized outlets. Social gambling is still allowed.

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2. Gambling Boat Hong Kong Buffet
3. Hong Kong Gambling Boat
4. Gambling Boat Hong Kong Kowloon
5. Gambling Boat Hong Kong Tourist

Legality[edit]

The government of Hong Kong restricts organized gambling to a few regulated outlets. The government enacted the Gambling Ordinance in 1977 to rein in excessive gambling while still providing gambling to the populace.^[2] Gambling involving a bookmaker is illegal in Hong Kong.^[2] Betting with a bookmaker and betting in a place other than a gambling establishment is illegal. The Hong Kong Jockey Club holds a government-granted monopoly on horse races, football matches, and lotteries. The revenue the club generates from various wagers makes it the largest taxpayer for the government.^[3]

Hong Kong generates the largest horse race gambling turnover in the world. The Hong Kong Jockey Club founded in 1884, holds a monopoly on horse racing wagers, lotteries and football betting and is the largest taxpayer to the government.^[3] In 2009, Hong Kong generated an average US$12.7 million in gambling turnover per race 6 times larger than its closest rival France at US$2 million while the United States only generated $250,000.^[4]

During the 2014-2015 racing season the Hong Kong Jockey Club attracted about HK$138.8 million (US$17.86 million) per race more that any other track in the world. Hong Kong Jockey Club broke its own record during the 2016-2017 season with a turnover of HK$216.5 billion and paid the government HK$21.7 billion in duty and profits tax, an all-time high.^[5]

Hong Kong’s casino cruises flourished alongside the world’s biggest gambling hub of Macau, across the mouth of the Pearl River from Hong Kong, until 2014. It was then that Chinese President Xi. In Hong Kong, gambling in physical casinos, as well as lottery, betting on sports and horse racing are all legal types of gambling. However, the majority of gambling enthusiasts prefer to visit a true gambling capital located nearby - Macau. 3.19 As compared with other jurisdictions, the scenarios the participation of gambling activities of Hong Kong people were in line with experiences overseas. The prevalence of legal and authorized gambling (that is, Mark Six and local horse racing) among the general population aged 15-64, was 67.6% in Hong Kong.

Charities[edit]

18+ New Customers only. Registration required. Free Spins on Book Casino Ship Hong Kong of Dead are subject to change and expire 7 days from activation. 35x wagering requirement before any winnings can be withdrawn. Most of the casinos in Hong Kong are found in the various gambling cruise ships which depart or are passing through Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, the largest gambling city is Kai Tak and the largest casino is in the Holland America Cruise Line.

Hong Kong has charities which have a goal to promoting responsible gambling practices among those who gamble and to minimizing the negative effects of problem gambling. Such charities also look 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 individuals and the community.^[2]

Recent events[edit]

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.^[6]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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=glrdoi:10.1089/109218801753336166
2. ^ ^abc'Responsible gambling policy'. Hong Kong Jockey Club. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
3. ^ ^abBalfour, Fredrick (22 February 2016). 'Hong Kong Horse Racing Is Serious Business'. Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
4. ^'Hong Kong's hardcore gamblers'. CNNMoney. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
5. ^Mok, Danny (1 September 2017). 'Hong Kong Jockey Club has record-breaking year'. South China Morning Post. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
6. ^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[edit]

• The Study on Hong Kong People's Participation in Gambling Activities, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, March 2012
• Tse, Samson; Yu, Alex C.H.; Rossen, Fiona; Wang, Chong-Wen (2010). 'Examination of Chinese Gambling Problems through a Socio-Historical-Cultural Perspective'. The Scientific World Journal. 10: 1694–1704. doi:10.1100/tsw.2010.167. ISSN1537-744X. OCLC48386834. PMC5763971. PMID20842314.

Lyzhyn, 62, a Russian-born Ukrainian and veteran seaman, and his colleagues, refuse to leave their 140 metre (460 foot) casino cruiser the New Imperial Star until they get the six months of pay they say they are owed.

Hong Kong's Marine Department has impounded the ship due to what it called 'serious deficiencies' found during an inspection.

Rations are running low, the ship's owners can't be reached and the cobalt blue felt covering the 16 baccarat tables is gathering dust.

'There's one egg per crew member per day,' Lyzhyn told Reuters onboard the ship, which is moored a short barge ride away from a bustling port in eastern Hong Kong.

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Breakfast was particularly miserable: 'No sausages, no bacon, no milk, nothing.'

Hong Kong's casino cruises flourished alongside the world's biggest gambling hub of Macau, across the mouth of the Pearl River from Hong Kong, until 2014.

It was then that Chinese President Xi Jinping launched a wide-reaching anti-graft campaign, snaring officials and powerful businessmen who had used Macau as a cash playground.

The gamblers have been steering clear.

'Really, business has gone down,' Lyzhyn said, dressed in a tan uniform with gold and black lapels.

'One year ago we had 200 passengers, before we stopped operating we had only 50.'

CONVOLUTED OWNERSHIP

Lyzhyn said the ship was detained in October last year after the owners failed to pay maintenance fees and as a result, it did not pass its inspections.

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The crew is waiting to be paid salaries totaling $400,000, he said.

He said he did not know who the ship's owners were but it was managed by a company called Skywill Management Limited.

Phone numbers for Skywill did not work while Sea Hawk Asia, the captain's previous manager, said it was not able to comment on the situation.

Prior to 2014, there were 12 casino ships operating out of Hong Kong but Lyzhyn said that number has plunged to four.

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The cruises typically pick up passengers at the teeming Tsim Sha Tsui pier in Hong Kong's Kowloon district and set sail at 8 p.m. for international waters, returning to Hong Kong 12 hours later, after a night of gambling.

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The boats are mostly owned by Macau junket companies which make use of convoluted ownership structures with multiple investors.

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On the New Imperial Star, flies buzz around the kitschy chandeliers and the crew of 20 Ukrainians, 18 from Myanmar and 8 Chinese can only wait. They may be there a while yet.

Lyzhyn said he hoped Hong Kong authorities would formally impound the ship in two weeks and then a legal process would start which he hoped would end, after a few months, with him and his crew being paid.