Gambling in Hong Kong

The gambling history of Hong Kong has many parallels to that of Macau, a city in close proximity. The only legal gambling provider in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). Horse racing commenced in Hong Kong in 1841 with the arrival of the British, and legalized gambling expanded with the introduction of the Mark Six lottery in 1975 and regulated football betting in 2003. The HKJC claims to be the single largest taxpayer in Hong Kong, accounting for over 8% of all taxes collected in Hong Kong between marked cards 2006 and 2007. This amounted to over HK$12.6 billion/year (or approximately US$1.62 billion); Hong Kong has a population of 7 million in 2010[46]. The HKJC donates an average of HK$1 billion/year to charity and community, and compares itself to the Rockefeller Foundation in the U.S.

In addition to these authorized modes of gambling, illegal gambling activities are offered by local bookmakers and unauthorized offshore operators in Hong Kong, including betting on overseas sporting events (e.g., the recent 2010 World Cup in Soccer) and races, as well as the Mark Six lottery. Although the proportion of people betting with illegal bookies has decreased in recent years, the scale of illegal gambling and its associated problems still deserve public attention[47]. Casino games are illegal in Hong Kong, but have become legalized in Taiwan and most recently Singapore. As a result, both places attract tourists from mainland China and other areas or countries.