Hong Kong is an autonomous region, being a part of China. The state has separate laws as it is designated a Special Administrative Region. In comparison, Hong Kong is more akin to US Virgin Island or Puerto Rico. Though they are an integral part of the US, citizens do not enjoy the same rights as the mainland. Gambling is blanketly prohibited in China but permissible in Macau and Hong Kong. Many wealthy Chinese citizens go on vacation to these two destinations to enjoy wagering.
Definition of gambling establishment
Hong Kong Gambling ordinance prohibits online or territorial casinos operation; one cannot run a gambling house in the territory of Hong Kong. However, there is a momentous difference between online betting and establishing and running online casinos. Online gambling laws are ambiguous. You can watch the results of every draw held by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) on theHK 2021 spending data website. Under the Amendment Act, there are certain gambling events are exempted. Anything not legal under the umbrella of exemption would be deemed as illegitimate. There is no specific immunity for digital wagering, so political leaders consider it to be unlawful. But online gambling does not come under the definition of unlawful betting.
Section 6 of the Gambling Ordinance
Section 6 of the Gambling Ordinance forbids wagering in a gambling establishment. The definition of gambling establishment is a venue explicitly used for unlawful betting. Since the residence from where you place bet is not a gambling establishment, it does not violate the regulation. While in a public place or transport, you bet from the smartphone, the place also does not fall under the gambling establishment. Café, restaurants, or hotels are not included in a gambling establishment.
Section 13 of the Gambling Ordinance
Section 13 of the Gambling Ordinance prohibits gambling outside a gambling establishment, but this applies when the bettor and operator of the illegal gambling house are in the same place. But operators of online casinos are overseas, and if you gamble through handheld devices from Hong Kong, two concerned people are not in the same place. Because of this logic, online gambling in Hong Kong does infringe section 13 of the Gambling Ordinance. As long you are not betting in a gambling establishment or in the same place as the operator, you are not infringing the Gambling Ordinance of Hong Kong. But remember, these conditions apply to casino games like slot, poker, or blackjack.
The online gambling law of Hong Kong is far more stringent and specific about sports betting. Section 8 of the Gambling Ordinance states any person who bets with a bookmaker, whether the transaction is done within or outside Hong Kong, is subjected to punishment. As the section specifies the location, gamblers cannot use a loophole for sports betting as in the case of casino games.
However, sports betting conducted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) are legal. The club was established in 1884; the income (around 80%) from lottery and sports betting is used for philanthropy purposes, including community services. The outcome of the horse racing and Mark Six lotteries are regularly updated on the (data pengeluaran HK 2021) site.
