The hongkong lottery is one of the most popular forms of gambling in Hong Kong. It’s estimated that the annual per capita lottery spending in the city is HK$3000, more than six times higher than Singapore. While the number of bankruptcies and family turmoil caused by lottery addiction is alarming, many people play responsibly within limits. Nevertheless, critics point to the escalation of lottery expenditure as evidence of an unhealthy culture of desperation.
The first prize dividend of HK$8 million was won by an entrant who selected all six winning numbers, including the bonus number. The other prizes are awarded to those who picked three, four or five winning numbers. The fourth to seventh prizes are fixed at HK$9,600, HK$640, HK$320 and HK$40, respectively. Players can choose their own entries or select Quick Pick with selections randomly generated by computer. The odds of winning are 1 in 68,384.
Despite the current pandemic, throngs of people lined up at lottery outlets to buy tickets for the Mark Six draw that will take place tomorrow night. Laundry worker Luk Yuen-wan, 66, said she spent HK$20 on her first-ever ticket after reading in the South China Morning Post that the jackpot had swelled to HK$100 million. The HKJC has taken a series of measures to ensure the fairness of the lottery draws, with security and customer service employees inspecting every detail of the process from boxing to transport. The balls used in the drawing machine are also weighed, measured and examined by X-ray on a regular basis.
Lottery organisers have made a variety of changes to the game in recent years. In 2010, for example, the cost of a ticket was doubled from HK$5 to HK$10 and the minimum first prize money rose to HK$8 million. The increased price was a move to counter the smuggling of Mark Six tickets to Macau and mainland China, where they can be sold for much more than in Hong Kong.
HKJC announced on Wednesday that Mark Six will be drawn twice a week, Tuesday and Friday, from March 8. The increase will boost the income of the Lotteries Fund and “provide assistance to those in need in the community particularly at a time when the city is facing an unprecedented COVID-19 challenge”. Customers can purchase the lottery tickets via 1886 Telebet Automated Services, Online Betting Service (eWin) and the Classic 3-in-1 mobile app. The results will be available on the eWin website and mobile app at 9:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time). The results will also be broadcast on TVB and radio stations. In addition, the eWin website will display the results in real-time. Besides, the results will also be posted in news media websites. The eWin website is free to use. The mobile app can be downloaded from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. A downloadable PDF version of the results is also available on the eWin website. In addition, the eWin website has a new FAQ section to help users with their inquiries.
