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Hong Kong Turns to Net Betting
Hong Kong Soccer Fans Turn To Net To Place Bets
By Adam Creed, Newsbytes
HONG KONG, CHINA,
22 May 2002, 6:21 AM CST
A significant proportion of people in Hong Kong intend to place illegal bets on World Cup soccer matches, and most of that gambling will take place online, according to the results of a new survey.
Soccer is extremely popular in Hong Kong. Next week its popularity will skyrocket when the 2002 World Cup finals, an international soccer tournament to be played in Korea and Japan during June, kicks off with qualification by China for the first time in the competition's history.
Throw in convenient live viewing times for all Asian nations and Hong Kong residents' penchant for gambling and you have a potential headache for the Hong Kong government.
Gambling is strictly regulated in Hong Kong and police have already begun cracking down on the operators of illegal betting operations and gamblers themselves.
But according to a new study by market research firm NFO WorldGroup, 12 percent of 835 Hong Kong residents surveyed said they were planning to defy current laws and bet on the World Cup.
Another 8 percent said they may place bets, and 16 percent said they had bet on soccer matches during the past year.
In the absence of convenient local sports betting and with an increased police presence targeting syndicates, many will turn to the Internet, the survey revealed.
Of those who said they would place bets on the World Cup, 70 percent said they would arrange them with foreign bookmakers over the Internet. That compares to 34 percent who said they plan to try and place bets with local syndicates.
There are hundreds of soccer betting sites spread across the world, most of them legal in their own jurisdictions.
But under Hong Kong's gambling ordinance, betting with an illegal bookmaker is an offense which can attract a fine up to 30,000 Hong Kong dollars ($3,847) and nine months' imprisonment.
W. K. Lam, Hong Kong's Secretary for Home Affairs, earlier this month confirmed that police officers would investigate people who place bets at home by telephone or on the Internet.
The NFO WorldGroup survey also found 57 percent of respondents said they supported legalized sports betting in Hong Kong.
NFO WorldGroup is at http://www.nfow.com.hk .
Reported By Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com .
By Adam Creed, Newsbytes
HONG KONG, CHINA,
22 May 2002, 6:21 AM CST
A significant proportion of people in Hong Kong intend to place illegal bets on World Cup soccer matches, and most of that gambling will take place online, according to the results of a new survey.
Soccer is extremely popular in Hong Kong. Next week its popularity will skyrocket when the 2002 World Cup finals, an international soccer tournament to be played in Korea and Japan during June, kicks off with qualification by China for the first time in the competition's history.
Throw in convenient live viewing times for all Asian nations and Hong Kong residents' penchant for gambling and you have a potential headache for the Hong Kong government.
Gambling is strictly regulated in Hong Kong and police have already begun cracking down on the operators of illegal betting operations and gamblers themselves.
But according to a new study by market research firm NFO WorldGroup, 12 percent of 835 Hong Kong residents surveyed said they were planning to defy current laws and bet on the World Cup.
Another 8 percent said they may place bets, and 16 percent said they had bet on soccer matches during the past year.
In the absence of convenient local sports betting and with an increased police presence targeting syndicates, many will turn to the Internet, the survey revealed.
Of those who said they would place bets on the World Cup, 70 percent said they would arrange them with foreign bookmakers over the Internet. That compares to 34 percent who said they plan to try and place bets with local syndicates.
There are hundreds of soccer betting sites spread across the world, most of them legal in their own jurisdictions.
But under Hong Kong's gambling ordinance, betting with an illegal bookmaker is an offense which can attract a fine up to 30,000 Hong Kong dollars ($3,847) and nine months' imprisonment.
W. K. Lam, Hong Kong's Secretary for Home Affairs, earlier this month confirmed that police officers would investigate people who place bets at home by telephone or on the Internet.
The NFO WorldGroup survey also found 57 percent of respondents said they supported legalized sports betting in Hong Kong.
NFO WorldGroup is at http://www.nfow.com.hk .
Reported By Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com .