Asia’s answer to Nevada was Macau. Macau was by 2019, the gambling capital of Asia, taking over from Nevada and its Las Vegas casinos.
Hong Kong was trailing behind Macau as another gambling destination. Hong Kong is a unique city. Despite being part of China, the city does not follow mainland laws, including those of gambling. However, these two giant betting and gambling spots were severely affected when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. With it came travel restrictions, and gamblers worldwide could not fly to Macau and Hong Kong. However, the city casinos are now embracing virtual gambling to generate revenue and ensure their customers are enjoying from wherever they are. The future is online, and so is online gambling.
Hong Kong Casinos Offer Most Advanced Gaming Combinations
According to the experts, the Hong Kong and Macau gambling industry is slowly rising from the ashes after going online. Most Hong Kong casino sites are now allowing their loyal customers to gamble remotely on their phones and computers. As Harrison Newton reported, online casinos in Hong Kong are now offering the most advanced combination of games as well as mobile compatibility to allow gamblers to play casino without worrying about their device’s compatibility and regular promotions.
Popular casino sites are also offering fantastic welcome bonuses for every signup and customer support that responds promptly. Almost everything location casinos in Hong Kong and Macau provided are now provided online. All these sites are licensed by the Hong Kong gambling regulator, and therefore you can safely transact and play on the site. The sites contain four primary categories, namely:
- Live casino
- Overall performance
- Slot selection
- Total number of online casino games
Hong Kong players have the chance to practice real money gaming without investing their own cash. Here are the types of games available.
- Roulette
- Slots
- Game shows
- Sic Bo
- Table games
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Video poker
- Casino Hold’em
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Following the easing of the lockdown restrictions and business going back to normal, Macau and Hong Kong gambling stations have seen a steady rise of visitors from Mainland China. According to Reuters, gambling revenue in Macau alone has risen by almost 500%. May’s figure was $1.32 billion, which was the highest in a year. Gaming revenues had reduced significantly in 2020, and many gambling businesses struggled to stay afloat.
Macau is still enforcing some local restrictions as well as controlling traveling to keep the rate of infection. Even though COVID-19 is at a manageable stage in China and neighboring regions, we are not out of the woods yet. Face masks remain mandatory, and gatherings for more than 400 people are prohibited unless they have their COVID negative certificates. Thermal scanners are also available at all casinos for the health safety of all gamblers. Transport between Hong Kong is available via the Hong-Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge as all flights remain grounded.
Online Gambling Legality in Hong Kong and Macau
Hong Kong is a betting hotspot, even though most credits seem to go to Macau. However, even though Mainland China laws don’t apply in Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s gambling laws are equally strict. Whether you are playing on a land-based casino or online, you should be over 18 years of age.
Hong Kong and Macau are special administrative regions, and since all forms of gambling except the state-managed lotteries are banned in Mainland China, most Chinese gamblers travel to Macau and Hong Kong for gambling. Each city has its own rules and different games. Many political leaders think online casinos are illegal in Hong Kong, while land-based casinos are regulated under certain clauses. The truth is that online casino gambling is not unlawful. Gambling in HK and Macau has been legal since the 1850s. It has been the main activity running the economy of the city.
The Future of Online Gambling in Hong Kong and Macau
The future of online gambling looks promising but so are the challenges associated with the activity. Most regulatory bodies are tightening the laws on gambling, including those in Hong Kong and Macau. Despite the uncertainty, we have seen more and more sites enter the gambling scene and with better offers.
Always keep tabs on the latest changes to the laws as you participate in gambling to be on the safer side. The only gambling that is permitted openly under the law is mahjong. However, the organizer or the person playing it should make no profit. Every gambler hopes that some of the laws will be revised to create a more conducive environment for gambling.
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