Poker in Hong Kong

Under the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148) all gambling is unlawful unless the Ordinance allows it; the main exceptions are betting and lotteries run through the Hong Kong Jockey Club and gaming 'played on a social occasion in private premises' that is not run as a trade or business or for anyone's gain other than the players' own winnings. Operating a gambling establishment carries up to HK$5 million and 7 years in prison, and gambling in one is also an offence. Poker clubs and 'poker houses' run on membership, tournament or mind-sport models, but no law or licence covers them, and police have raided them, for example arresting 176 people at the Hong Kong Poker House in Central and seizing its tables and chips. There is no legal casino or card room offering poker for money in Hong Kong.^{[3, 4, 5, 6, 7]}

• No casinos: the HKJC is the only authorised bookmaker (horse racing, football and the Mark Six lottery).
• Social gaming is lawful only on a social occasion in private premises, not run as a business or for profit.
• Running a gambling establishment: up to HK$5 million fine and 7 years (on indictment); gambling in one is an offence for players too.
• Police treat paid poker clubs as possible gambling establishments; the Hong Kong Poker House raid saw 176 arrests.
• Clubs describe poker as a mind sport and run member tournaments, but this has no statutory basis.
• Macau, reachable by ferry or the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, has licensed casinos with poker for people aged 21 and over.

Age: There are no casinos in Hong Kong. 18 is the statutory age for legal gambling (HKJC betting and lotteries). Casinos in nearby Macau admit only people aged 21 and over.^{[2, 12]}

There is no licence for online casino or poker in Hong Kong; the HKJC is the only authorised betting operator. Section 8 of the Gambling Ordinance makes betting with a bookmaker an offence 'whether the bet is received within or outside Hong Kong', and in June 2026 police warned that people in Hong Kong betting on overseas platforms may already have committed this offence, whatever licence the operator holds abroad. Promoting or facilitating bookmaking, including advertising, is a separate serious offence, and influencers have been arrested for promoting illegal gambling sites. Police ask telecom providers to block and filter fraud-related links, but no formal blocking scheme for gambling sites was found.^{[1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11]}

Licensed online poker

None

Players can be prosecuted

Yes

Sites blocked

Unclear

Advertising ban

Yes

• No licensed online poker or casino; HKJC is the only legal online betting operator.
• Players: betting with a bookmaker carries up to HK$50,000 and 9 months in prison (Gambling Ordinance s 8), even if the bet is received outside Hong Kong.
• Police said in June 2026 that an overseas licence does not make betting from Hong Kong lawful, and warned against using VPNs.
• Operators and promoters: bookmaking or promoting it carries up to HK$5 million and 7 years.
• Seven influencers were arrested in November 2022 for promoting illegal online gambling sites.
• A June-July 2026 World Cup operation led to 991 arrests for bookmaking, betting with a bookmaker and running gambling establishments.

Visa

About 165 nationalities can visit Hong Kong visa-free for between 14 and 180 days (90 days for most Western passports, 180 days for British citizens); Indian nationals need online pre-arrival registration. Check the Immigration Department list at immd.gov.hk.

Money

The currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD). Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted in Macau, so there is no need to change money for a day trip to the casinos there.

Casino Entry

There are no casinos in Hong Kong. For Macau, take the ferry from Sheung Wan or Tsim Sha Tsui (about an hour) or the 24-hour bridge bus from the Hong Kong port (about 35 minutes), bring your passport for immigration at both ends, and note that Macau casinos admit only people aged 21 and over.

Tax on Winnings

We have not confirmed yet how poker winnings are taxed in Hong Kong. Check with the venue or a tax adviser before you play for large amounts.

The legal answers rest on official sources: laws, regulators, government and courts. News and poker media are marked as secondary sources and are used for the poker scene, not as the only basis of a legal answer.

1. 1.Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148), consolidated text (last updated 13.12.2018) - Hong Kong SAR Government (copy hosted by Cyrilla), accessed October 28, 2026
2. 2.LCQ: Legal gambling age (reply on the statutory age of 18) - Hong Kong SAR Government (info.gov.hk), accessed October 28, 2026
3. 3.Gambling Comparative Guide: Hong Kong - Mayer Brown via Mondaq (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
4. 4.LCQ13: Combating illegal gambling - Hong Kong SAR Government (info.gov.hk), accessed October 28, 2026
5. 5.Police show their hand in raid on Central poker house - South China Morning Post (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
6. 6.Poker in Hong Kong guide - SOMUCHPOKER (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
7. 7.Lei n.º 10/2012, Condicionamento da entrada, do trabalho e do jogo nos casinos - Imprensa Oficial de Macau (Boletim Oficial), accessed October 28, 2026
8. 8.Police anti-illegal gambling operation during World Cup (991 arrested) - Hong Kong SAR Government (info.gov.hk), accessed October 28, 2026
9. 9.Hong Kong police warn World Cup fans over illegal overseas betting platforms - AGB (Asia Gaming Brief) (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
10. 10.Seven influencers arrested for promoting illegal online gambling - The Standard (Hong Kong) (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
11. 11.Police arrest suspects for bookmaking via overseas-hosted gambling website - Hong Kong SAR Government (info.gov.hk), accessed October 28, 2026
12. 12.Visit Visa / Entry Permit Requirements for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - Immigration Department, HKSAR, accessed October 28, 2026
13. 13.Getting to The Venetian Macao: Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge - The Venetian Macao, accessed October 28, 2026
14. 14.Hong Kong to Macau Ferry: The Complete 2026 Guide - MacauHoliday (secondary source), accessed October 28, 2026
15. 15.Useful information - Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), accessed October 28, 2026
16. 16.LCQ: Measures to address gambling problems (Ping Wo Fund counselling centres, hotline 1834 633) - Hong Kong SAR Government (info.gov.hk), accessed October 28, 2026