If you want to find the finest bookmakers in Hong Kong, here is where you will get help.
Our guide to online gambling in this special administrative region of China includes everything from the Jockey Club monopolizing betting to why many residents prefer foreign operators for popular sports and taxes.
In addition to operating on land, the Hong Kong Jockey Club is the only authorized website for online betting in Hong Kong. The HKJC’s site enables you to purchase lotto tickets and wager on races and football.
In 2002, the HKJC’s position was strengthened when making it illegal for international bookmakers to offer their services in Hong Kong and also for residents to place bets with them.
If caught using them, the residents could be locked up for a period of nine months and/or pay HK$30, 000 fines while the companies’ representatives offering betting services to Hong Kong residents may face seven years imprisonment alongside a HK$5 million fine.
A lot of people are attracted to foreign bookies by their irresistible welcome bonuses. Betters can’t be prosecuted, but the real owners of underground casinos and gambling houses always live with fear before being arrested.
Despite the insistence of authorities that locals place their bets with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, most people ignore this advice and turn to online sports betting as they search for better odds, wider markets, and bigger bonuses available elsewhere in the world.
If there are any ISP restrictions, if HKD deposits are accepted and which payment methods are acceptable, it is the main concerns of Hong Kongers about international betting websites. I will be talking about each of these concerns.
Strictly speaking, it is illegal to bet online anywhere in Hong Kong but on the HKJC website. However, to date, there has been no effort from the government to prevent foreign bookmakers from entering into this market.
These laws are ignored by tens of thousands of sports fans in Hong Kong who choose to bet through foreign bookies. Every site accepting clients from Hong Kong offers support in English and Chinese languages.
It is important to note that some of these websites accept Hong Kong Dollar, which means you will have to convert your money either into US dollar (USD) or Chinese Yuan (CNY). A number of them will do it for you by using your HKD deposit in converting that currency on the same day, leaving you exposed to the variations.
In Hong Kong, majority of banks and credit card companies refuse to process payments for overseas gambling platforms; however, a few Visa and MasterCard transactions may be successful especially when the cards have been issued by non-local firms.
If that’s not possible, online wallets such as Skrill and NETELLER can be considered. You can in fact stash money into any of these, and send it around on the internet. These include different currencies for HKD which means you will save on conversion rates if you are using a number of international betting sites.
Only horse racing tracks were the only places where betting was legally allowed for many years in Hong Kong. However, during 1970s illegal gambling was so much and as a result, off-track bookmakers were established. The operation of these institutions was under Hong Kong Jockey’s Club (HKJC), an organization that still regulates all forms of legal betting in the nation today.
The largest taxpayer and private charity contributor in the area, HKJC is operated by volunteers. Two Hong Kong tracks–Happy Valley and Sha Tin–host horse races organised by the HKJC. Charity events, dinners and social meetings are also planned for approximately 23,000 members of this organization.
As a result of this monopoly, various illegal enterprises have sprouted all over Hong Kong. In 2014 during the world cup, police raided land based establishments that were being run by organized crime gangs managing to seize around HK$350m in cash alone. Authorities are still interested in destroying these illicit gambling rings rather than taking measures against international bookmaking sites which would be a lot safer for the local people in essence.
The ease of access of online bookmakers from Hong Kong increases despite the legislation in place as technology advances. The increased number of residents who prefer international bookmakers to HKJC has brought about a new set of problems for lawmakers.
It is probable that there will be a change in Hong Kong’s online gambling laws. However, this may not happen for a long time because the Government of Hong Kong has more urgent concerns on its agenda. Fortunately, those who are passionate about sports betting in Hong Kong have many alternatives to select from.
Gambling Ordinance of Hong Kong permits parimutuel and fixed odds on horse racing and soccer, however, one is only allowed to bet at Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). Nevertheless, a variety of online betting sites in Hong Kong use other bookmakers for better bonuses and odds.
Hong Kongers are fans of horse racing, mainly at Sha Tin and Happy Valley, where approximately 700 races are held annually. Hong Kong also has a love for soccer betting which include the highly competitive Hong Kong Premier League as well as some of Europe’s elite leagues like English Premier League and La Liga.
It is so unfortunate that most online gambling operators do not accept the Hong Kong dollar. If you cannot select it when signing up, then we recommend Chinese yuan or US dollars. You can still deposit in HKDs but will be converted automatically into another denomination.
A.Ah, Hong Kong is among many sports betting services with the bet365 website’s restricted nations.
