Illegal spelhall med fishing games avslöjad i Hongkong

Raid in Sham Shui Po led to eight arrests

According to local police, the raid was carried out on April 9 in the Sham Shui Po district following a tip-off from the public. Following an in-depth investigation, police raided a commercial premises on Cheung Sha Wan Road, where a suspected illegal gambling operation was being carried out behind closed doors.

Five so-called fishing game machines were seized during the raid, along with gaming equipment and a small amount of cash. A total of eight people were arrested at the scene. Seven of these are suspected of participating as players, while a 54-year-old local man, identified by the surname Chan, is suspected of running the business.

Among those arrested were a man from mainland China, five local men and a local woman. The suspects range in age from 34 to 71. Two of the local men are also said to have been wanted previously. All are now being held for further investigation.

Fishing games increasingly linked to illegal gambling

Fishing games are large arcade-style machines where players use virtual “cannons” to shoot fish at a screen. Each hit earns points, while rarer fish can yield significantly higher payouts. The games are designed primarily as entertainment, but in recent years have become a recurring component of illegal gambling schemes in both Hong Kong and mainland China.

Operators of these illegal gambling dens often offer cash payouts based on players’ points, effectively making the games unlicensed. The operations are often run in temporary or hidden locations to avoid detection.

Strict penalties under Hong Kong gambling laws

Under Hong Kong’s Gambling Ordinance, Chapter 148, both operating a gambling business and participating in such business are considered serious offences. The suspected operator faces a fine of up to HK$5 million, equivalent to approximately $640,000, and up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Players can also face significant penalties. Participating in illegal gambling can result in a fine of up to HKD 50,000 and imprisonment for up to nine months.

Part of a broader regional trend

The Kowloon raid is not an isolated case. Hong Kong police have carried out several similar operations over the past year, often focusing on fishing game schemes. In March 2025, authorities cracked down on a similar operation in the same district, where both the operator and the players were arrested.

In neighboring Macau, authorities have also stepped up their crackdown on gambling-related crime. Earlier this year, a self-proclaimed gambling guru was arrested on suspicion of fraud after borrowing money from a client and losing it in casinos.

The development points to a clear trend where Asian authorities are tightening supervision of gray areas within the gaming market, especially where traditional arcade games are used as a cover for unlicensed gambling.