No Gambling Policy

Gambling

• No Gambling Policy Insurance
• No Gambling Policy Tax
• No Gambling Policy For Casino Staff
• No Gambling Policy

The Company believes gambling during work time or using work-related resources to gamble is not an appropriate use of work time (including e-mail, phone, internet, etc.). With this goal in mind and to avert problem gambling in today's workplace, we are establishing the following policy for existing and future employees of XYZ Corporation, Inc.

• Message from the Chairman, Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee (December 2012)

Gambling Policy

The Home Affairs Bureau is responsible for formulating gambling policy and monitoring its implementation. Hitherto, the gambling policy is to restrict gambling opportunities to a limited number of authorized and regulated outlets. At present, such authorized gambling outlets include horse racing organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club , the Mark Six Lottery, authorized football betting and gaming activities authorized by the public officer appointed by the Secretary for Home Affairs under the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148) (e.g. mahjong parlours).

The rationale behind this policy is two-fold. First, while we recognize that there is always a demand for gambling, the conduct of gambling activities should be authorized and regulated. This is because unregulated gambling activities can lead to a number of social problems - frauds, underage gambling, loan sharking, etc. - and become a potential source of income for triad and criminal activities. Second, since it is impossible to reconcile the different views in the community on the extent to which authorized gambling outlets should be allowed to exist, a compromise approach is to allow only a limited number of authorized gambling outlets, the purpose of which is to satisfy substantial and persistent public demand for gambling which would otherwise turn to illegal operators.

Gambling Legislation

1. Information about creating a workplace gambling policy, including useful tips and a sample policy. Additional resources about gambling in the workplace, workplace problem gambling symptoms, and a 21-step system to help employees recover from gambling addiction.
2. Lawful Internet gambling businesses will be required to provide extensive documentation at account opening. Payment Systems a. Automated Clearing House (ACH) Bronco receives a large number of ACH credit transactions. While there is no data base of illegal Internet Gambling businesses, it is impossible to review each ACH for.
3. Panaji: It appears that the government's plan to shift all offshore casino vessels from the Mandovi could be a difficult task as no alternative site could be zeroed in on so far due to strong opposition from all corners. Sources said the government has asked the home department to set in motion the process for drafting a casino policy.

Under the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148), all gambling activities are illegal except those expressly authorized by the Government under the Betting Duty Ordinance (Cap. 108) (i.e. authorized horse racing, authorized football betting and the Mark Six Lottery), those licensed by the public officers appointed by the Secretary for Home Affairs (e.g. mahjong parlours) and those exempted under Section 3 of the Gambling Ordinance (mainly social gambling).

Betting and Lotteries Commission

With effect from 15 August 2006, the name of the Football Betting and Lotteries Commission was changed to the Betting and Lotteries Commission, and the functions of the Commission expanded to include advising the Secretary for Home Affairs on the regulation of the conduct of betting on horse racing as well as compliance with licensing conditions by the licensee. Details of the terms of reference and membership of the Commission are as follows :

Terms of reference

To advise the Secretary for Home Affairs on the following aspects -

1. regulation of the conduct of horse race betting, football betting and lotteries in accordance with the provisions of the Betting Duty Ordinance and the licensing conditions;
2. compliance with the licensing conditions by the licensees;
3. handling of public complaints relating to the compliance of the licensing conditions by the licensees;
4. imposition of financial penalties on the licensees; and
5. issuance and revocation of horse race betting, football betting and lottery licences; and variation of the conditions of such licences.

Chairman

Mr FONG Man-hung, David, BBS, JP

Non-official Members

Dr. CHAN Po-ling
Mr FOK Kai-kong, Kenneth, JP
Ms. FUNG Dun-mi, Amy, MH
Rev HO Chi-dik
Ms HO Yee-lin, Elaine
Mr LAI Tat-shing
Hon LAU Kwok-fan, MH
Ms LEUNG Fung-yee, Fonnie
Mr. LING Ho-wan, Howard, MH
Ms LU Hai, BBS, MH, JP
Hon WAN Siu-kin, Andrew
Mr. WONG Hin-wing

Official Members

Commissioner of Police or his representative
Permanent Secretary for Education or his representative
Director of Home Affairs or her representative

Meeting of the Commission

Submission of views on the proposal of increasing the number of simulcast days

The Betting and Lotteries Commission invited members of the public to submit views on Hong Kong Jockey Club's proposal of increasing the number of simulcast days. For details, please click here.

Complaints and comments

No Gambling Policy Insurance

If you have any complaints and comments regarding the regulation of authorized betting and lotteries, please contact us through the following channels:

The Ping Wo Fund

The Government established The Ping Wo Fund in September 2003 to finance preventive and remedial measures to address the gambling-related problems. From 2019/20, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has undertaken to contribute $45 million each year within a four-year period. The Fund also welcomes donations from the public. For cheque and cash donations:
- Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC) account number '502-407851-001'. Cheques should be made payable to 'The Secretary for Home Affairs Incorporated – The Ping Wo Fund'. For more details of the Fund and the programme schedules, please visit http://www.donotgamble.org.hk.

The major ambits of The Ping Wo Fund are to finance the following measures:

- research and studies into problems and issues relating to gambling;
- public education and other measures to prevent or alleviate problems relating to gambling;
- counselling, treatment and other remedial or support services for problem and pathological gamblers and those affected by them.

A Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee has been established to give advice on the use and application of the Fund. The membership of the Committee is as follows:

Chairperson

Mr YIP Chun-to, Adrian, B.B.S., M.H., J.P.

Ex-officio Members

Representative of Secretary for Home Affairs
Representative of Secretary for Education
Representative of Director of Social Welfare

Non-official Members

Mr CHAN Chun-chung
Mr CHAN Ho-ting, Mac
Ms CHAN Wing-man
Dr CHEN Yuk-lun, Ronald
Ms CHENG Michelle
Mr CHIU Ka-yin, Andrew
Mr CHONG Yan-kit, Sam
Miss HO Ching-wai, Cherene
Ms LEUNG Fung-yee, Fonnie
Mr NG Chak-hang, Matthew
Dr POON Yin-kwong, Johannes
Miss WONG Sze-sze

Meeting of the Advisory Committee

Research and studies on gambling-related issues and problems

We have commissioned academic institutes to conduct research and studies on Hong Kong People's participation in gambling activities. (for report, press here ).

No Gambling Policy Tax

Counselling and treatment as well as other remedial services for gamblers with gambling disorder

Four dedicated counselling and treatment centres for gamblers with gambling disorder financed by The Ping Wo Fund are being operated by Caritas, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Zion Social Service Limited and Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service respectively. The first two centres operated by Caritas and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals commenced service since October 2003 whereas the two other centres operated by Zion Social Service Limited and Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service commenced service in 2007 and 2010 respectively. The four centres also provide gambling counselling hotline service (telephone number: 1834 633).

The four centres provide specialised counselling and treatment services for gamblers with gambling disorder and their family members. The four centres will also facilitate the development of the best practices for remedial services and screening of gamblers with gambling disorder in Hong Kong, and collect data and statistics for the sake of enhancing understanding about the behaviour and risk factors of gamblers with gambling disorder.

Project i-Change: a new stepped-care-approach for problem gamblers

The Project i-Change, which features a virtual counsellor, is a pilot project funded by the Ping Wo Fund and operated by Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong with an aim to fill the gap of existing operation hours of counselling services by providing simulated counselling support service to problem gamblers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As an artificial intelligence computer programme developed by a team of multi-disciplinary versatile professionals, the virtual counsellor serves as an initial contact point to offer preliminary advice and encourage problem gamblers for further telephone and face-to-face counselling.

• Project i-Change (Chinese Version Only)

No Gambling Policy For Casino Staff

Ping Wo Fund Sponsorship Scheme 2020-21

The Ping Wo Fund Sponsorship Scheme, administered by the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee, aims to provide sponsorship to community organisations to organise public education programmes/activities to prevent and alleviate gambling-related problems. The application for the Ping Wo Fund Sponsorship Scheme 2020-21 was closed on 16 September 2020.

Ping Wo Fund School Project Grants 2020-21

The Ping Wo Fund School Project Grants administered by the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee aims to provide sponsorship to schools to organise educational projects/activities on prevention or alleviation of gambling-related problems among students. The application for the 2020-21 Ping Wo Fund School Project Grants was closed on 15 June 2020.

(You need to use Acrobat Reader to read the above PDF format document files. Acrobat Reader can be downloaded in here.)

Gambling policy is about preventing gambling addiction and creating a sound and secure gambling market in which social protection interests are safeguarded by the demand for gambling being satisfied in a controlled fashion.

Betting and Lotteries Commission

With effect from 15 August 2006, the name of the Football Betting and Lotteries Commission was changed to the Betting and Lotteries Commission, and the functions of the Commission expanded to include advising the Secretary for Home Affairs on the regulation of the conduct of betting on horse racing as well as compliance with licensing conditions by the licensee. Details of the terms of reference and membership of the Commission are as follows :

Terms of reference

To advise the Secretary for Home Affairs on the following aspects -

1. regulation of the conduct of horse race betting, football betting and lotteries in accordance with the provisions of the Betting Duty Ordinance and the licensing conditions;
2. compliance with the licensing conditions by the licensees;
3. handling of public complaints relating to the compliance of the licensing conditions by the licensees;
4. imposition of financial penalties on the licensees; and
5. issuance and revocation of horse race betting, football betting and lottery licences; and variation of the conditions of such licences.

Chairman

Mr FONG Man-hung, David, BBS, JP

Non-official Members

Dr. CHAN Po-ling
Mr FOK Kai-kong, Kenneth, JP
Ms. FUNG Dun-mi, Amy, MH
Rev HO Chi-dik
Ms HO Yee-lin, Elaine
Mr LAI Tat-shing
Hon LAU Kwok-fan, MH
Ms LEUNG Fung-yee, Fonnie
Mr. LING Ho-wan, Howard, MH
Ms LU Hai, BBS, MH, JP
Hon WAN Siu-kin, Andrew
Mr. WONG Hin-wing

Official Members

Commissioner of Police or his representative
Permanent Secretary for Education or his representative
Director of Home Affairs or her representative

Meeting of the Commission

Submission of views on the proposal of increasing the number of simulcast days

The Betting and Lotteries Commission invited members of the public to submit views on Hong Kong Jockey Club's proposal of increasing the number of simulcast days. For details, please click here.

Complaints and comments

No Gambling Policy Insurance

If you have any complaints and comments regarding the regulation of authorized betting and lotteries, please contact us through the following channels:

The Ping Wo Fund

The Government established The Ping Wo Fund in September 2003 to finance preventive and remedial measures to address the gambling-related problems. From 2019/20, the Hong Kong Jockey Club has undertaken to contribute $45 million each year within a four-year period. The Fund also welcomes donations from the public. For cheque and cash donations:
- Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd (HSBC) account number '502-407851-001'. Cheques should be made payable to 'The Secretary for Home Affairs Incorporated – The Ping Wo Fund'. For more details of the Fund and the programme schedules, please visit http://www.donotgamble.org.hk.

The major ambits of The Ping Wo Fund are to finance the following measures:

- research and studies into problems and issues relating to gambling;
- public education and other measures to prevent or alleviate problems relating to gambling;
- counselling, treatment and other remedial or support services for problem and pathological gamblers and those affected by them.

A Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee has been established to give advice on the use and application of the Fund. The membership of the Committee is as follows:

Chairperson

Mr YIP Chun-to, Adrian, B.B.S., M.H., J.P.

Ex-officio Members

Representative of Secretary for Home Affairs
Representative of Secretary for Education
Representative of Director of Social Welfare

Non-official Members

Mr CHAN Chun-chung
Mr CHAN Ho-ting, Mac
Ms CHAN Wing-man
Dr CHEN Yuk-lun, Ronald
Ms CHENG Michelle
Mr CHIU Ka-yin, Andrew
Mr CHONG Yan-kit, Sam
Miss HO Ching-wai, Cherene
Ms LEUNG Fung-yee, Fonnie
Mr NG Chak-hang, Matthew
Dr POON Yin-kwong, Johannes
Miss WONG Sze-sze

Meeting of the Advisory Committee

Research and studies on gambling-related issues and problems

We have commissioned academic institutes to conduct research and studies on Hong Kong People's participation in gambling activities. (for report, press here ).

No Gambling Policy Tax

Counselling and treatment as well as other remedial services for gamblers with gambling disorder

Four dedicated counselling and treatment centres for gamblers with gambling disorder financed by The Ping Wo Fund are being operated by Caritas, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Zion Social Service Limited and Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service respectively. The first two centres operated by Caritas and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals commenced service since October 2003 whereas the two other centres operated by Zion Social Service Limited and Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service commenced service in 2007 and 2010 respectively. The four centres also provide gambling counselling hotline service (telephone number: 1834 633).

The four centres provide specialised counselling and treatment services for gamblers with gambling disorder and their family members. The four centres will also facilitate the development of the best practices for remedial services and screening of gamblers with gambling disorder in Hong Kong, and collect data and statistics for the sake of enhancing understanding about the behaviour and risk factors of gamblers with gambling disorder.

Project i-Change: a new stepped-care-approach for problem gamblers

The Project i-Change, which features a virtual counsellor, is a pilot project funded by the Ping Wo Fund and operated by Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong with an aim to fill the gap of existing operation hours of counselling services by providing simulated counselling support service to problem gamblers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As an artificial intelligence computer programme developed by a team of multi-disciplinary versatile professionals, the virtual counsellor serves as an initial contact point to offer preliminary advice and encourage problem gamblers for further telephone and face-to-face counselling.

• Project i-Change (Chinese Version Only)

No Gambling Policy For Casino Staff

Ping Wo Fund Sponsorship Scheme 2020-21

The Ping Wo Fund Sponsorship Scheme, administered by the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee, aims to provide sponsorship to community organisations to organise public education programmes/activities to prevent and alleviate gambling-related problems. The application for the Ping Wo Fund Sponsorship Scheme 2020-21 was closed on 16 September 2020.

Ping Wo Fund School Project Grants 2020-21

The Ping Wo Fund School Project Grants administered by the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee aims to provide sponsorship to schools to organise educational projects/activities on prevention or alleviation of gambling-related problems among students. The application for the 2020-21 Ping Wo Fund School Project Grants was closed on 15 June 2020.

(You need to use Acrobat Reader to read the above PDF format document files. Acrobat Reader can be downloaded in here.)

Gambling policy is about preventing gambling addiction and creating a sound and secure gambling market in which social protection interests are safeguarded by the demand for gambling being satisfied in a controlled fashion.

Responsible for gambling policy

No Gambling Policy

News about gambling policy

• News feeds and publications

  The following list contains news items and published documents, such as press releases, government bills or proposals referred to the Council on Legislation for consideration. It is pre-filtered to display content tagged with the relevant area. The list can be further filtered to help you find what you are interested in.