It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Statista expects the revenue in Hong Kong’s gambling market to hit $1.69 billion by the end of 2025. And if that’s not impressive enough, it also forecasts a steady growth rate of 3.15%, potentially pushing the revenue to $1.92 billion by 2029. This statistic highlights that there’s so much more to Hong Kong than just its stunning skyline.
Beneath those iconic lights lies a rich gambling culture, paradoxically wrapped within some of the strictest gambling laws in Asia. Take the casino industry, for instance. While online gambling is strictly prohibited in the region, players are taking advantage of offshore sites like those reviewed by online-gambling.com to immerse themselves. Accessing them is quite convenient, as you only need a smartphone and good internet connectivity.
This contrast between local restrictions and global accessibility creates a fascinating scenario. On one side, Hong Kong has a strict legal framework that permits only a handful of government-approved gambling options, primarily managed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). On the flip side, the locals, motivated by tradition, convenience and a sense of adventure, are always finding ways to gamble beyond the official avenues. If you want to dive deeper into how this intriguing dynamic unfolds today, keep reading!
A legal framework that walks a tightrope
Gambling in Hong Kong is regulated under the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148), initially enacted in 1977 and revised several times since. The ordinance’s main aim is not to deny Hong Kongers gambling experiences, but rather, to rein in excesses. Of course, this is not new because governments across the globe have been working hard to ensure their citizens can participate safely.
As one interested in engaging in the industry the right way, knowing what’s legal and what’s not can be handy. You don’t want to carry the burden of paying the government up to HK$5 million or serving an imprisonment term of about seven years just because you were found gambling illegally. The key player in this legal landscape is the HKJC, a non-profit organization that holds a government-granted monopoly on legal betting activities.
You may want to think of it as a hybrid of a bookie and a public service. And because of how the government uses it to manage gambling activities, the HJKC witnessed a gross turnover of about HK$134.7 billion for the 2023/24 season. That’s like 17.3 billion US dollars, highlighting the region’s potential despite tight regulations.
A culture that keeps the game alive
You only need to step into a local teahouse or family gathering during Lunar New Year to see how embedded gambling is in the city’s cultural DNA. Take mahjong, for example. Do you know that this title-based game has a long-spanning history dating back over a century?
According to many historians, mahjong was developed in China in the 19th century and spread to the rest of the world from the beginning of the 20th century. Families sit around small square tables, sipping tea and exchanging playful banter as they slap down tiles. Stakes are usually low, often more symbolic than serious.
Then there’s horse racing, which was introduced during British colonial rule in the mid-19th century. The first official races were held in 1846 at Happy Valley, which remains one of the city’s premier racing venues today. What began as a pastime for the British elite quickly gained popularity among the local Chinese population, transforming into a city-wide phenomenon over time.
And as years went by, betting became an inseparable part of the entire experience. You may actually be surprised to learn that early this year (2025), Hong Kong punters wagered about US$248.7 million on the first race day in the Year of the Snake.
Other popular gambling forms include:
- The Mark Six Lottery, where draws happen multiple times a week
- Football betting involving both major and international tournaments
The shadow of illegal gambling
Given that Hong Kongers have been participating in different gambling forms since ancient times, it shouldn’t be surprising to see many of them turn to online casino sites to access new experiences. But remember, online casinos are illegal in this region, which explains the popularity of offshore operators in the city.
And to avoid being detected, many players have been using virtual private networks (VPNs) to gamble on these sites. A VPN creates a private connection by encrypting your internet traffic, hiding your IP address and routing your internet connection through a remote server. This protects gamblers from prying eyes and allows them to access online casinos that operate in different regions like Macau and the UK.
But it’s not just about accessing gambling sites using VPNs. You may need to make deposits and withdrawals. And this is where it gets tough because the Chinese FX regulator requires financial institutions to monitor for cross-border engagements like gambling. To avoid being caught, users have been turning to e-wallets like Neteller to manage their offshore accounts.
From this discussion, you can tell that regulating a culture that has been part of a community for a long time can actually be challenging. This can get even more difficult given the prevailing tech improvements in the internet and payment methods. Since completely overruling gambling may not work in most places, Hong Kong and other governments globally are working hard to ensure players can still engage, but in a more secure way.
