In some ways betting is a key aspect of culture within Hong Kong. In fact, this city has managed to generate the largest global turnover when it comes to horse race wagers. If someone in Hong Kong wants to bet on egaming events there are plenty of ones to choose from. Many of them will feature local teams.
However, the industry as a whole is far from free. Instead, a government granted monopoly is in place. Some neighboring regions have outright restrictions on gambling in all its forms. Hong Kong takes a middle approach. Legitimate forms of betting are strictly controlled.
However, it is possible to use bookie websites operating outside of Hong Kong. Doing so will give the person access to the world's esports betting markets. As a result more citizens prefer to seek out foreign bookies. If this is the case then they need to know what to look for.
A high-quality site will have plenty of markets, a decent user interface and numerous payment methods. Most importantly, there will be a reliable and up to date security system in place.
In the modern era people in Hong Kong can utilize an esports bookie. When a high-profile tournament takes place the person will be able to find markets for it. Generally speaking there is a lack of internet censorship when it comes to gambling.
Users will find that few wagering websites are blocked. A free Wi-Fi service operates throughout the region. This means that people can log into egaming bookies practically anywhere. This is helped by the fact that portable smart devices are very popular in Hong Kong.
Furthermore, there is a thriving game culture. A wide range of titles have either been developed or set in this city. As a result plenty of citizens are aware of esports and actively place bets on competitions. There is a great level of local pride in the professional gamers who hail from Hong Kong.
Several famous teams have represented this region over the years. Some of them have managed to win significant prize pools. When this occurs it brings international media attention to the Hong Kong gaming community. Despite the city's fondness for games there is a fair amount of restriction when it comes to the act of gambling in general.
Hong Kong might have a certain level of freedom when it comes to betting. However, this could change thanks to the region's relationship with Beijing. The esports betting in Hong Kong has in the future will be directly affected by the diplomatic relations between the two regions.
China has a blanket ban on betting on game tournaments. It is possible that in the future Beijing will force Hong Kong to change its current legislation. If this occurs it will likely stop citizens from gambling in general.
On the other hand, Hong Kong could instead decide to come up with its own laws related to esports. Currently, there are no robust regulations related to this activity. Gamblers are able to place esports wagers thanks to loopholes and a lack of clear wording. Since gaming is so popular in Hong Kong it makes sense that the government would officially legalize these types of wagers.
Hong Kong might also seek to nationalize esports gambling. This precedent has already been set with horse racing in this city. The government could create a new entity that serves as only legitimate way to wager online. They may then make a profit by taxing the earnings of winners.
The most significant development has been the emergence of gaming and the internet. The Gambling Ordinance of 1977 continues to regulate how Hong Kong residents can gamble. It states the authorized outlets that people can utilize for wagering. Social gambling is still permitted.
In 1884 the Hong Kong Jockey Club was created. It has had an effect on future forms of sports betting. The HKJC became the biggest taxpayer to the government thanks to revenue generated from its gambling initiatives.
Another key factor for the popularity of esports wagering is the increase in money transfer methods. In the past people would have had to settle for card or bank transfers. Now they can choose a payment option that suits their specific needs. Transfer times can be instant depending on the method.
Before the Ordinance was passed Hong Kong had an issue with problem gamblers. The new rules and emerging charities changed this. As a result people in this city have places to turn to if their esports wagering gets out of control. A culture of moderation has emerged. The social and economic benefits of wagering can be maximized.
Before people decide to place a wager on an esports game they should recognize how strict the gambling laws are in Hong Kong. There are harsh consequences to citizens who break these rules. They may be fined or even imprisoned. Whilst Hong Kong is a part of China it does not share all of its laws. Instead it is a Special Administrative Region. This is a similar situation to Puerto Rico and the United States.
China bans sports gambling but there is more leeway within Hong Kong. Because of this Chinese citizens will sometimes travel to the region in order to place wagers freely. On the other hand, there is legislation in place which prohibits people from setting up an online sportsbook based in this city. Interestingly, the best esports bookies do not technically fall under the classic definition of gambling as described in Hong Kong law.
Therefore its legitimacy is a gray area. Those who want to bet on esports in Hong Kong will be doing so at their own risk. They need to ensure that they are not inadvertently breaking any pre-existing rules. Much of the current legislation is focused on more traditional forms of sport wagering.
They include football and horse racing in particular. It is possible that specific esports laws could be created in the near future. Until then citizens have to interpret the current ones.
Section 6 of the Gambling Ordinance for Hong Kong outright bans wagering anywhere that can be described as a gambling establishment. However, if the person places a bet in their own home it does not technically count as a violation. It is possible to access the best esports bookmakers on the internet in a way that is perfectly legal. Many modern portable devices also give users access to wagering apps. They could gamble whilst commuting or inside a coffee shop.
Section 13 of this same betting act makes the situation even clearer. It states that if a gambler is in the same location as the casino operator then a crime is being committed. However, many Hong Kong based punters will instead by utilizing esports wagering sites based outside of the region.
As a result online gambling is not a violation of Hong Kong Gambling Ordinance. On the other hand the laws about gambling were created with table games in mind. Much of it pre-dates the concept of esports.
Overwatch stands out as a game that gamblers within Hong Kong like to place bets on. Many of the regions pros focus on it. However, Hong Kong based players do not qualify for the iconic Overwatch League tournament.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) has also proven to be popular. It is a first-person shooter associated with a range of prestigious competitions. The most high profile of these is the CS:GO Majors Championship, where prize pools can reach $1 million.
In recent years multiplayer online battle arenas have taken the esports world by storm. A good example of this is League of Legends. It rivals Dota 2 in terms of its popularity within Hong Kong. During the 2019 LoL World Championship more than 4 million people around the world watched the finals.
The company Blizzard has a big cultural significance to Hong Kong gamers. The free-to-play collectible card title Hearthstone is a good example. It utilizes the lore of the iconic Warcraft franchise. On the streaming site Twitch over 20 million minutes worth of Hearthstone gameplay was broadcast in 2021. Blizzard also created Starcraft 2, a real-time strategy game. It is regularly featured on esports bookie websites.
Over the years a number of professional player organizations have caught the attention of the video game betting community. Talon Esports have been around since 2016. They have mostly focused on League of Legends tournaments. However, they have also branched out to other well known titles. These include Arena of Valor, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Street Fighter V.
G-Rex are also well known amongst fans of LoL. They were originally called Dream Catcher Gaming and then Raise Gaming. Whilst the team's overall performance has been hit or miss they still continue to compete in high profile championships. They are therefore featured on many bookmaking websites.
If punters are looking for a more well established esports teams then they may pick Hong Kong Attitude. They were founded in 2013 and have been a dominant force ever since then. Their roster features top athletes such as Tsai Chung-ting, Hsiao Jen-tso and Wu Hao-wei.
Nova Monster Shield is a more recent team that has already proven itself against well established ones. They have competed in tournaments for PUBG and Overwatch. Since their inception in 2019 the organization has had several roster changes. This makes it more difficult to determine the quality of future performances.
The best esports betting sites Hong Kong has to offer will provide plenty of banking options. Citizens will want to find a deposit method that accepts the Hong Kong dollar. This form of currency is made up of 1000 mils or 100 cents.
An esports bookie will be more or less indistinguishable from a standard sports betting website when it comes to payment methods. Many of them will allow users to pay via a debit or credit card. The most popular card companies within Hong Kong are Visa, MasterCard, American Express and JCB. Plenty of esports gambling entities accept these.
E-wallets have also become popular within the world of online gambling. There are ten digital wallets that are currently utilized within Hong Kong. These are Tap & Go, PayMe, UnionPay, Google Pay, Apple Pay, WeChat Pay, PayMe, TNG, AliPayHk and O! ePay. More than 245 thousand Hong Kong citizens own a form cryptocurrency.
They might wish to wager with it. An increasing number of esports bookies have begun to accept Bitcoin, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies. However, since Hong Kong has one of the highest concentrations of banks in the world punters might instead want to make deposits via a wire bank transfer.
Citizens have to be at least 18 in order to participate in forms of gambling. When signing up to an esports betting site they may need to provide proof of their identity.
No. It is illegal for anyone to provide a venue for gambling within Hong Kong. This includes both physical and online esports betting. The main exception to this is the Hong Kong Jockey Club. However, their focus is on horse racing, not esports.
When the Gambling Ordinance of Hong Kong came into effect it did not include any initiatives to aid those with wagering addictions. In 2003 the Ping Wo Fund was created. It is designed to educate the general public about problem gambling. Counseling and rehabilitation services are also offered.
Yes, if they are wagering on esports bookies based oversees. However, once they cash out their winnings will be converted into HKD. Because of this they need to calculate the exchange rate beforehand. Overall it is wiser to wager with HKD as the punter will know exactly how much they stand to win or lose.
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