A 90-year-old was among nine elderly residents arrested by Hong Kong police on Sunday on suspicion of engaging in illegal mahjong gambling.
The force said officers raided a flat being used as an illegal mahjong parlour on Ham Tin Street in Tsuen Wan at around 3pm, arresting an alleged operator and eight gamblers.
Five men and three women aged between 60 and 90 were arrested for allegedly gambling in a gaming establishment.
A 67-year-old woman surnamed Sham was arrested on suspicion of operating the unlawful venue.
All nine arrestees are being held for further investigation.
Police seized two electronic mahjong tables, four mahjong sets, pieces of furniture and HK$1,200 (US$154) in cash.
Gambling establishments must have a license to operate in the city. Operating one without a license is punishable by a HK$5 million fine and up to seven years in jail.
Offenders found guilty of gambling in an unlicensed gaming establishment are liable to face a HK$10,000 fine and three months’ imprisonment on first conviction. The fine amount and prison term increase on subsequent convictions.
Police arrested 1,900 people over illegal gambling offences between January and May this year, with betting slips and cash seized amounting to HK$4.6 million.
The annual number of suspects arrested over the offences was between 5,700 and 6,700 in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
In July, police broke up a criminal syndicate after arresting 46 people and shutting down seven gambling dens. The alleged ringleader and his wife were also accused of laundering about HK$10 million in illicit gambling proceeds.
A month earlier, police arrested almost 60 people in a crackdown on overseas gambling websites that have raked in HK$460 million in illegal bets on football matches, horse racing and card games since the start of this year.
