The hongkong lottery is a 6 out of 49 lottery-style game run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Its draws are held thrice each week on Tuesday, Thursday and non-racing Saturday (or Sunday) and are televised. Winners must present their ticket to claim their prize within 60 days of the last draw on it. This can be done at HKJC racecourses or off-course betting branches. HKJC can make any enquiries it considers necessary to validate a claim.
While the size of Friday’s jackpot is impressive for a city of seven million people, it is dwarfed by the massive prizes of lotteries in Europe and the United States. However, many citizens are fervent Mark Six enthusiasts, often queueing for hours to place their bets ahead of biweekly draws with the hope of winning life-changing sums. Some critics worry that this national fixation could be a precursor to unhealthy addiction, while others say the lottery’s popularity reflects a harmless escapist fantasy in a land of punishing living costs and widening inequality.
There have been a few major changes in the way winners of Mark Six can claim their prize money. The HKJC has streamlined its procedures to avoid confusion for customers. In the past, if you won the top prize of HK$5 million or more, you had to come forward to collect your prize in person at the HKJC headquarters building. The HKJC has now waived this requirement for customers who win a dividend of over HK$1 million through digital channels such as the eWin online lottery platform, Classic 3-in-1, Racing Touch and GoalX mobile apps, or HKJC eWallet.
In addition, the HKJC is now providing a new online service that allows people to check the results of their entries on any mobile device. This will eliminate the need to go to a hongkong lottery center or a hkjc branch and save time for customers.
HKJC has also improved its customer service. Previously, there were long waits when calling the helpline and a lack of clarity in its information. Now, there are dedicated telephone lines and more staff to answer questions. Its website is also more user-friendly and offers an improved search function.
The HKJC has also increased the amount of money it donates to charities and community projects. In the 2009-2010 financial year, it donated HK$1.52 billion to some 107 charities and community projects. This amount is much higher than what it donated in the previous fiscal year. It has also introduced a scheme to allow lottery winners to donate their prize funds directly to charities and community projects.
Despite these positive steps, the lottery frenzy in Hong Kong continues to attract criticism. Some fear that the overemphasis on gambling may encourage people who don’t gamble to think it’s quite easy for them to get rich, thereby fuelling problem gambling. Reverand Wu Chi-wai, convener of the Anti-Gambling Coalition, said that overemphasis on gambling can give false hope to those who don’t gamble and lead to addiction.
