Interview by RTHK Hong Kong Collection on claw machines and gambling

This episode of Hong Kong Collection from RTHK discussed the addictive nature of claw machines, their current unregulated status, and the government’s proposed law reform to establish a new regulatory regime.

In the interview, Mr Gordon Chan explained Hong Kong’s gambling law and discussed the risks of patrons using claw machines that involved elements of gambling.

Pursuant to the Gambling Ordinance (Cap 148), participating in a “game of chance” or a “game of combined chance and skill” to win money or property constitutes gambling. Consequently, the presence of chance represents a critical compliance concern, particularly for machines incorporating dice. 

Furthermore, under section 19 of the Ordinance, locating gambling equipment (such as dice) on any premises creates a statutory presumption that the venue is a gambling establishment. Those participating in such games also run the risk of gambling in a gambling establishment, which is an offence under section 6.

Until the proposed regime is in place, claw machines remain in a regulatory gap. Where chance decides the prize, both the shop and the player stay exposed under the Gambling Ordinance.