Internet endangers betting revenue but not other income - yet

Online gambling may erode revenue from betting duty, the Government has warned.

But business and stock transactions on the Internet have yet to chip away at revenue, Secretary for Treasury Denise Yue Chung-yee said.

Ms Yue conceded that betting duty might fall as the number of gambling Web sites increased.

'There is a possibility that this development will have the effect of gradually siphoning betting dollars away from the legalised forms of betting in Hong Kong,' she said.

However, Ms Yue said quantifying the revenue loss would be impossible.

The Home Affairs Bureau is reviewing gambling policy in an effort to avert any possible revenue loss.