Hong Kong authorities proposed amending gambling laws to tighten oversight of claw machines and other prize-based amusement games by requiring individual licences for each device. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau released the proposal on May 4, calling for a new licensing regime to replace the current voluntary code of practice [1].
The plan also makes licensing mandatory for internet cafes, which must now apply for licence or exemption. Officials said the existing rules require holders of an Amusements with Prizes Licence to first hold a Places of Public Entertainment Licence, a step they want to update [1].
Concerns driving the proposal come from a recent surge in claw and pinball machines across Hong Kong, raising fears of addiction due to gambling-like elements, especially among young people. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said “amusements with prizes that contain gaming elements and addiction risks should be included in the regulatory scope” and described the need for clearer legal standards to reflect policy goals [1].
The bureau stated, “Recent development highlights the need for an appropriate update on existing legislation to reflect policy goals accurately.”
The new licensing requirements would enable regulators to monitor individual devices more closely and enforce rules mitigating gambling-related harms. The consultation period and detailed implementation timeline have not yet been announced [1].
