One in five punters was betting at 10
One in five gamblers placed a bet before the age of 11, an online survey has found. The survey results released yesterday follow claims by police last week that schoolchildren are not placing illegal bets and gambling is not a serious problem in Hong Kong. RTHK's online survey shows 44 per cent of 1,407 people interviewed thought gambling was harmless entertainment, while an additional 16 per cent said it was a good way to kill time and build friendships.
One in three even believed they had a sure-win formula for placing bets and 25 per cent saw it as a good way to make fast money.
'Most people see it as entertainment and a form of social etiquette. They think they can control lady luck and that they will always win,' said Joe Tang Yiu-cho, social worker supervisor at the Caritas Addicted Gamblers Counselling Centre. 'They don't see the high stakes involved. They can't picture committing suicide or being chased by loan sharks because of it.'
Part of an anti-soccer gambling campaign targeting children, the survey did not specify what type of bets were placed. A total of 34 per cent of those interviewed started gambling before the age of 18, compared with 32 per cent who began gambling after reaching adulthood.
Organised Crime and Triad Bureau Chief Superintendent Choy Kin-cheung said on Thursday that he had doubts school children were placing illegal bets and that gambling industry sources were exaggerating the problem of illegal soccer bookmaking in Hong Kong.
The survey, conducted from April 28 to May 31, was part of an anti-gambling campaign launched by the RTHK, Home Affairs Bureau and the Ping Wo Fund.
