The Chinese love of gambling is well known; yet what is less well-known
is that there are few casinos operating anywhere in China, including
Hong Kong. The government of China has a somewhat negative attitude
towards casinos, and gambling more generally, and discourages it
wherever possible. Therefore, Hong Kong casinos get around this official
prohibition in a number of ingenious ways.
Although there are no officially sanctioned Hong Kong casinos, gambling
in Hong Kong is actually remarkably easy. The most obvious method of
gambling is to go to nearby Macao; the former Portuguese enclave is only
a short hydrofoil ride away, less than an hour from Hong Kong. In
Macao, gambling is not only permitted, but it is the prime attraction
for tourists visiting from Hong Kong and elsewhere. There is an
official age limit of 21, and passports are required for the journey,
but otherwise, Hong Kong gamblers will find the trip to Macao more than
worthwhile - always provided they win, of course!
There are a large number of casinos in Macao that cater to every type of
gambler, whether they are playing for high stakes or low, and however
dressed. China is well aware that many people come to Macao for the
gambling, including thousands of tourists from Hong Kong, and so China
is happy to permit the sport to continue. Indeed, Chinese people are
well known for their addiction to gambling of all sorts, and
consequently, the casinos are almost always full.
Another aspect of the Hong Kong casino scene is offshore gambling, which
allows Hong Kong tourists to gamble on board specially appointed cruise
ships and boats in international waters off the coast of Hong Kong,
thus getting around the rules that prevent the existence of Hong Kong
casinos. Publicity for these cruises rarely features gambling very
prominently, but nonetheless, there are many operators offering voyages
that include the opportunity to gamble at leisure in an onboard casino.
Of course, these journeys also offer the chance to enjoy spectacular
views of Hong Kong harbor when entering and leaving the former colony.
As a result, these voyages are extremely well subscribed to and growing
in popularity every year. They are an enjoyable addition to the usual
itinerary of the visitor to Hong Kong, and accordingly, there are plenty
of opportunities for tourists visiting Hong Kong to enjoy the
excitement and glamor of visiting a casino and indulging in this most
Chinese of pastimes.
