The government of Hong Kong is poised to move the regulation of pinball and claw machines under its gambling laws.
The Hong Kong Home and Youth Affairs Bureau has sent a proposal to the policy-making Legislative Council calling for a mandated device licensing system.
This would restrict the number of arcades allowed to house pinball and claw machines. It would also make permit-holding venues subject to supervisory checks.
If they are forced to operate under Hong Kong’s Gambling Ordinance laws, arcades that host any kind of prize-winning entertainment game could need to apply for similar permits.
Legislative Council member Kwok Fu-yung said she has recently received a slew of complaints from parents about pinball and claw machine centers.
Kwok said some businesses are deliberately opening their shops near tutoring centers. This reportedly helps them attract young students, according to the Chinese media outlet China.com.
Hong Kong Pinball Mania Sparks Regulatory Push
Following a 2022 ruling from the Hong Kong High Court, “ordinary” claw machines do not meet the definition of “entertainment devices.” As such, they do not currently require special permits.
But while claw machine centers have come under scrutiny and crackdowns across Asia in recent months, Hong Kong is reportedly gripped by a pinball craze. And it appears that this has forced the bureau to act.
The media outlet wrote that claw machine arcades in many parts of Hong Kong are currently experiencing low footfall. But pinball machine arcades are reportedly springing up in shopping malls, particularly those near schools.
After school, pinball machine arcades are often crowded with young people in school uniforms, the outlet wrote.
Many popular pinball machines in Hong Kong award points for players who land balls in a designated hole.
Many arcades let players redeem their points for prizes such as figurines, game consoles, and even high-end mobile phones.
Tang Ka-piu, the Chairman of the Legislative Council’s Committee on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports, stated that the current framework of the relevant regulations was overly “lenient.”
Centers do not have to check their patrons’ ages and face no operating time restrictions, Tang said.
Asian Claw Machine Crackdown
Tang said the proposals seek to strike a balance between fostering local businesses and addressing public concerns about the machines.
The bureau member said the government was committed to curbing “hidden gambling” and preventing young people from becoming addicted to gambling.
Last year, the Thai government reclassified claw machines as “gambling equipment.” Officials warned that centers operating claw machines without a valid permit could face up to 2 years in jail.
A crackdown could also be on the way in South Korea. As of August last year, the country had almost 6,000 unstaffed claw machine centers. Officials say the number of centers has increased by more than 15% in the past two years.
South Korean high school students have told media outlets they feel the machines are a form of “gambling.” Some have admitted to losing over $100 in unstaffed centers in just 30 minutes.
