Regulation needed for quasi gambling apps in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong watchdog’s call for better regulation on games of a betting nature is worth considering
The advance of technology has made many aspects of our lives just a simple click away on the internet.
But it also raises a wealth of ethical and legal questions, some of which warrant a closer look by the authorities. The growing popularity of simulated online gambling games is a case in point.
Hong Kong’s Consumer Council is to be commended for flagging an issue that has not been given the attention it deserves.
Releasing the findings of a test on six gaming apps, the council said the operators employed common tactics to entice players to make in-app purchases. The cost for maintaining the highest membership tier ranged from HK$870 to a staggering HK$2.48 million.
It is unclear who would want to fork out millions of dollars for a virtual game membership.
Even though players do not wage with real money, the games resemble real-life betting, with players using money to get in-game currencies for playing mahjong, slot machines and poker.
