Hong Kong authorities will consider requiring operators to display the odds of winning on claw machines, while remaining open to increasing the prize value and maximum payout per game under a proposed regulatory regime, the home affairs minister has said. “The most important thing is to protect players and consumers, ensure they play in a…
Hong Kong authorities have proposed amending gambling laws to tighten oversight of claw machines and other prize-based amusement games by issuing individual licences for each device, in a bid to prevent addiction. In a document released by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau on Monday, officials called for a mandatory regime for internet cafes, requiring…
After years of debate over whether claw and pinball machines encourage high-stakes gambling, Hong Kong has finally proposed stricter oversight to curb gaming, particularly among teenagers. Cases of addiction linked to these machines are rising in the city, but drawing a clear distinction between gaming and gambling remains difficult. As Hong Kong prepares to amend…
The operation of claw and pinball machines could be regulated by capping fees and prize values as a first step to curb addiction to automated games, lawmakers have said, while also warning of “deceptive” designs that make winning impossible. While calling for a balance between user protection and industry development, two legislators said the caps…