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The Government announced today (November 26) to authorize and regulate soccer betting as a means of tackling the problem of illegal soccer gambling in Hong Kong.
Explaining the decision at a press conference, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, said: "The Government's policy on gambling is to restrict gambling opportunities to a limited number of authorized and regulated outlets only. The underlying rationale is not to encourage gambling. Our proposal to authorize and regulate soccer betting is in line with this policy.
"The primary objective of authorizing and regulating soccer betting is to combat the illegal soccer gambling problem. In other words, it is intended as a means of tackling an established social problem.
"Illegal soccer gambling is invariably associated with other illegal activities, such as loan sharking and debt collection. It is also one of the major sources of funding for organized and serious criminal activities," Dr Ho said.
"Authorization of soccer betting could divert the existing illegal soccer betting to the regulated channel. This could alleviate the illegal soccer gambling problem and the Police resources required to counter such activities," Dr Ho added.
Dr Ho explained that the Government considered it appropriate and necessary to provide an authorized outlet on soccer betting at this point in time, for the following three reasons:
* there has been a sufficiently large and persistent demand for soccer betting (both in terms of estimated number of participants and betting money), despite tightened anti-gambling legislation and enhanced enforcement efforts;
* the demand is being satisfied by illegal means (which in turn are linked to other criminal activities), and the problem cannot practically and fully be tackled by law enforcement alone even with the devotion of substantial resources; and
* the proposition commands majority public support, with around 70 per cent in support according to results of latest public opinion surveys.
Dr Ho said: "The Government plans to issue one licence on soccer betting in Hong Kong, for a period of five years. This seeks to prevent competition amongst operators which could stimulate demand for gambling."
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has been designated to be the operator of soccer betting. The major reason is that the HKJC could make use of its existing resources and betting facilities, this obviates the need for additional gambling facilities, hence minimizing the nuisance which might be caused to the public.
"Licensing HKJC would also be in line with the existing gambling regulatory regime whereby authorized betting is mainly run by non-commercial and non-profit-making entities," Dr Ho added.
The Government has also proposed to include the following major elements in the operational and regulatory framework for authorized soccer betting:
* it would set up an independent special commission which is responsible for the regulation of authorized soccer betting and Mark Six lottery. This commission will comprise predominantly of non-officials;
* the licensee would be required to contribute to a dedicated fund set up for the purpose of conducting public education, providing treatment and counselling services for pathological gamblers, and conducting research on problem gambling. This seeks to address a long-standing problem relating to gambling in general;
* the licensee would be required to adopt suitable preventive measures against problem and pathological gambling, such as displaying notices at the gambling establishments informing punters of the risks of gambling, and avenues of seeking assistance in case of need. Suitable restrictions would be imposed on the promotion and advertising on soccer betting so as to minimize the effect of encouraging the public to gamble;
* persons aged below 18 would be strictly prohibited from placing bets, entering any betting premises and opening betting accounts. The licensee would be required to take reasonable and effective measures to prevent taking bets from the underaged; and
* credit betting would be prohibited, so as to prevent excessive gambling in Hong Kong.
"Our package of proposals seek to strike a balance between the need to combat illegal soccer gambling effectively, and the need to address public concerns about the negative social impact of gambling," Dr Ho remarked.
The Government would draw up the details of the operational and regulatory framework for authorized soccer betting in the coming months, with a view to introducing the necessary legislative amendments into the Legislative Council in 2003.
End/Tuesday, November 26, 2002
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