Hong Kong Police Warn Fans on Overseas World Cup Betting Sites
Hong Kong’s police have cautioned football supporters that betting through foreign websites may still result in breaking gambling laws in the city, despite their claims of being legally licensed offshore. This warning follows reports that there will likely be an increase in betting activity in light of the coming Fifa World Cup, which starts on June 11.
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Betting Rules Under Scrutiny
Police issued the reminder after Fifa named its first prediction market partner for the tournament. The force said people in Hong Kong who place bets with a local or overseas bookmaker outside authorised channels could be prosecuted under the Gambling Ordinance.
Chief Inspector Wong Yu-fai of the force’s organised crime and triad bureau said some online gambling websites present themselves as legally registered overseas. He added that anyone in Hong Kong who gambles on such sites may already have committed the offence of betting with a bookmaker.
Enforcement Figures And Trend
The figures showed that 374 serious gambling offenses were reported last year, with the arrest of 4,482 people. Moreover, over HK$3 million, or US$382,900, was recovered from the offenders, including betting records valued at HK$1.1 billion. The numbers represented only a slight decline from 2024, where 5,341 arrests were made in 471 serious gambling offenses.
According to police officials, illegal gambling continues to be one of their concerns, especially during big games such as the Euro 2024, during which 735 people were arrested, and the 2022 World Cup, when 1,104 people were arrested.
Prediction Market Partner
Fifa named Gibraltar-registered ADI Predictstreet as its official prediction market partner for the 2026 World Cup in April. The Abu Dhabi-based platform will allow users to make predictions on match results, tournament statistics and player performances.
Police did not name the platform directly, but officers said that in their understanding, such officially affiliated betting platforms would only be available to registered residents in certain European jurisdictions. They said the platforms would not legally allow users elsewhere, including in Hong Kong, to bet.
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Digital Risks And Access
Furthermore, the police informed the community not to use virtual private networks (VPNs) or any technological measures to enter offshore betting sites. According to officers, the crucial factor would be whether there was an actual transaction of money between a person and the bookie.
The force said illegal bookmaking syndicates are increasingly using digital channels to contact punters and settle bets, including websites, phones, social media and messaging platforms. Wong said digitalisation has made enforcement more difficult than traditional bookmaking, which relied on physical contact between punters and agents, but said police have the expertise to handle such cases. He warned that engaging in illegal gambling or betting is like opening the door to criminals, with a person’s phone number and bank account then becoming known to the criminal world.
Youth And Financial Harm
Police said some bookmaking syndicates are believed to be controlled by triads. Another danger of this type of gambling is that punters may fall victim to any organized crime rings, which may exploit their financial troubles, forcing them to sell out the right to use their bank account or perform other offenses.
According to police clinical psychologist Woo Chin-pang, gambling among teenagers do not only harm finances but may have serious consequences for their psychological condition, causing depression, mental disorders, and even suicide attempts. The representative provided an example of his 24-year-old patient, known only by the name of Ah Hin, who had started gambling in his youth. His hobbies included esports and football betting; however, in a year, he amassed a debt of roughly HK$160,000 despite making about HK$18,000 to HK$19,000 per month. As noted by the patient in a video interview shown by the police, the problem was that foreign betting sites offered various incentives, which suggested to punters that gambling is a good deal and invited them to make numerous bets. Initially, small amounts of HK$5 and HK$20 turned into huge bets of thousands of Hong Kong dollars.
Police are now warning residents, especially the youth, not to underestimate how fast and easy self-control can be lost during major tournaments.
Source: South China Morning Post
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