An estimated 380,000 people have gambled illegally

Teenagers indulge in millions of debts

Recently, a number of advertising posts appeared on online social platforms, claiming to provide free tips for the European Cup to attract gamblers to place bets.

According to recent statistics on illegal gambling, it is estimated that more than 380,000 Hong Kong people have participated in illegal gambling. The number of 18 to 20-year-old youths participating in illegal gambling is three times more than those participating in legal gambling. Some youths are addicted to gambling. Debt-ridden. Some gambling organizations pointed out that there are more cases of seeking help during the epidemic, many of which involve illegal gambling activities, and some young people owe millions of dollars in debts due to illegal gambling on football matches.

According to statistics, illegal gambling is more widespread than expected. According to the estimate that there are 6.2 million people over the age of 15 in Hong Kong, about 6%, or 385,000, are involved in illegal gambling; another statistics indicate that 18 The number of young people in their 20s who participate in illegal gambling is three times more than that of legal gamblers. A report by the Asian Horse Racing Federation pointed out that illegal operators often promoted through social platforms, usually advertised credit betting and diversified betting items. The former has become the key to attracting gamblers. However, many gamblers are debt-ridden due to gambling disorders. It even led to other criminal activities.

The Asian Horse Racing Federation’s report quoted our newspaper’s report on September 20 last year on "Poker Gambling Network Pretending to be a Mobile Game and Squeezing Student Money". The article mentioned that "boats" pretended to be students and used social platforms to lure teenagers to download poker games on mobile phones. App and exchange real money for gaming chips. Some students participated in illegal online gambling, including the NBA basketball game in the United States. They were allowed to bet on credit and eventually accumulated more than 600,000 yuan in debt.

Chen Zhihua, Senior Supervisor of Caritas Chin Ching Centre, said that more cases of illegal online gambling were received during the epidemic, which is believed to be related to the convenience of betting on mobile phones. The app has a gambling element, which encourages players to participate in gambling. "Winning an unknown player online will bring joy and excitement, and more money in return. Once you are addicted, it will be difficult to extricate yourself."

Chen mentioned that there was a case of being unable to go to Macau casinos due to the epidemic and was attracted to illegal gambling by online publicity. Another young man betting 10,000 yuan a week after contacting illegal football gambling networks. Debt amounts to one million yuan. He emphasized that participating in illegal online gambling can lead to gambling disorders and debts at any time. "The position of the gambling quitting agency is that it is best not to gamble. If gambling, you should also exercise restraint."

[TW]

估計38萬人曾非法賭博 青少年沉溺欠債百萬

近期網上社交平台出現多個廣告帖文，稱可免費提供歐國盃貼士，以招徠賭客下注。

根據近期有關非法賭博的統計，估計有逾三十八萬港人曾參與非法賭博，十八至二十歲青少年參與非法賭博的人數，更比參與合法賭博者多三倍，部分青少年因沉迷賭博債務纏身。有戒賭機構指出，疫情下求助個案增多，當中不少涉及非法賭博活動，有青年更因非法賭波欠債百萬元。

據統計，非法賭博比預期普及，按本港有六百二十萬名十五歲以上人口推算，約百分之六、即三十八萬五千人有參與非法賭博；另有統計指十八至二十歲青少年參與非法賭博的人數，比合法賭博者多了三倍。亞洲賽馬聯盟的報告指出，非法營運商往往通過社交平台宣傳，通常標榜可賒帳投注及投注項目多元化等，前者更成為吸引賭客的關鍵，惟不少賭客因賭博失調導致債務纏身，甚至因此引發其他犯罪活動。

亞洲賽馬聯盟的報告則引述本報去年九月二十日「撲克賭網扮手遊榨學生錢」的報道，文中提及有「艇仔」冒充學生，在社交平台引誘青少年下載撲克遊戲的手機應用程式，並以實際金錢換取遊戲籌碼，亦有學生參與網上非法賭博，包括美國NBA籃球賽等，因獲准賒帳下注，最終累積逾六十萬元債務。

明愛展晴中心高級督導主任陳志華表示，疫情下收到更多網上非法賭博求助個案，相信與手機下注方便有關，「『一機在手』就可賭」，加上市面不少手機應用程式具賭博成分，助長玩家參與賭博的心態，「網上贏了不認識的玩家，會帶來喜悅和刺激感，更有金錢回報，一旦沉迷難以自拔。」

陳提到，有個案疫情下無法前往澳門賭場，受網上宣傳吸引接觸非法賭博，另有青年接觸非法賭波網後，每周投注一萬元，因輸多贏少借貸再賭，累積欠債達百萬元。他強調，參與網上非法賭博隨時導致賭博失調及欠債，「戒賭機構的立場是最好不要賭博，如賭博也要有節制。」