Well according to a China Daily article entitled ‘Resorts, lotteries coming to Hainan’, Lottery regulations are being relaxed in China's tropical southern island province of Hainan to assist it becoming a global resort within a decade, marking a big step forward for the country's lottery business.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, has apparently given permission to Hainan on Monday to "explore and develop" pari-mutuel sports lotteries and instant sports lotteries on large international events, which is expected to enrich Hainan's tourism resources.
Media speculation was aroused as to whether gambling on horseracing is likely to be introduced to the island as well. Gambling is still illegal on the Chinese mainland, according to current Chinese laws.
According to Dr A S Johan an adviser to RS Management Limited – Global General Managers for Richman’s International Millionaire’s Clubs and its affiliate The Royal Nanjing Jockey Club, other forms of gaming may be successful but it is unlikely that horse racing could be successful in Hainan - even if gambling of some sort was permitted. Horse racing requires a substantial domestic audience and cannot be supported by tourists and temporary visitors.
Welfare and sports lotteries were permitted two decades ago to raise funds for welfare and sports causes, and a regulation was passed last year to legalize the lottery business in China, said Wang Xuehong, director of the China Center for Lottery Studies based in Peking University.
Previously, pari-mutuel sports lotteries could only bet on the results of foreign basketball and football games, not domestic games, out of fear of match fixing and other unfair practices, she said.
"Now the rules allow pari-mutuel sports lotteries to bet on the results of domestic and international sports events that are held in Hainan, which will be a big step forward for China's 22-year-old lottery business," she said.
Biking, sailing, beach volleyball and horseracing, as long as they are held in Hainan, could all be the subject of the pari-mutuel lottery in the future, she said.
The lotteries, as well as duty-free shopping, a broadened visa-free policy and a harsher crackdown on illegal tourism practices to improve Hainan's image, are expected to work together to attract more tourists from home and abroad.
The State Council, China's Cabinet, has apparently given permission to Hainan on Monday to "explore and develop" pari-mutuel sports lotteries and instant sports lotteries on large international events, which is expected to enrich Hainan's tourism resources.
Media speculation was aroused as to whether gambling on horseracing is likely to be introduced to the island as well. Gambling is still illegal on the Chinese mainland, according to current Chinese laws.
According to Dr A S Johan an adviser to RS Management Limited – Global General Managers for Richman’s International Millionaire’s Clubs and its affiliate The Royal Nanjing Jockey Club, other forms of gaming may be successful but it is unlikely that horse racing could be successful in Hainan - even if gambling of some sort was permitted. Horse racing requires a substantial domestic audience and cannot be supported by tourists and temporary visitors.
Welfare and sports lotteries were permitted two decades ago to raise funds for welfare and sports causes, and a regulation was passed last year to legalize the lottery business in China, said Wang Xuehong, director of the China Center for Lottery Studies based in Peking University.
Previously, pari-mutuel sports lotteries could only bet on the results of foreign basketball and football games, not domestic games, out of fear of match fixing and other unfair practices, she said.
"Now the rules allow pari-mutuel sports lotteries to bet on the results of domestic and international sports events that are held in Hainan, which will be a big step forward for China's 22-year-old lottery business," she said.
Biking, sailing, beach volleyball and horseracing, as long as they are held in Hainan, could all be the subject of the pari-mutuel lottery in the future, she said.
The lotteries, as well as duty-free shopping, a broadened visa-free policy and a harsher crackdown on illegal tourism practices to improve Hainan's image, are expected to work together to attract more tourists from home and abroad.
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