Most legalized gambling activity in Hong Kong is conducted by a facet of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's gambling monopoly, a situation that is unlikely to change any time soon. Now the government of Hong Kong is considering legislation that would make it illegal to offer offshore gambling services to its residents and illegal for Hong Kong residents to bet with offshore sites. This would include both telephone betting services and Internet gaming and wagering sites.
Further, operators that promote such services to Hong Kong residents could face fines and imprisonment under the proposed legislation, something that would drastically affect many operators targeting this popular gambling Mecca. There's no word yet how the government would enforce such
legislation, acknowledged attorney Rob Deans with Bird & Bird law firm in Hong Kong.
It's Deans belief that many gaming activities are already illegal under the current Gambling Ordinance, although the prospective legislation would close any loopholes that Hong Kong punters have been able to slip through.
Although there's no timeline for when the legislation will pass, it has already gone through the first of three reading necessary under legislative procedures. The bill has been referred to the Bills Committee for study.
Click here to view Hong Kong's current Gambling Ordinance.