DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

‘Totally hooked’: Hong Kong targets claw machine addiction

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Hong Kong is facing a surge in claw machine addiction, with players spending significant amounts of money on the seemingly harmless games.
  • Concerns have been raised by officials and gambling counselors about the addictive nature of these machines, which are largely unregulated.
  • Authorities are proposing tighter regulations, including potential prize value caps, to address the growing problem.

Claw machines, once a source of casual entertainment, are now fueling a growing addiction crisis in Hong Kong, prompting regulatory scrutiny. Stores filled with these colorful, prize-dispensing machines have proliferated across the city, drawing players with the promise of rewards and a sense of accomplishment.

this is definitely gambling

— Neiki LeeA claw machine player admitting to the addictive nature of the game.

However, the reality for many, like Neiki Lee, a 48-year-old office clerk, is far more serious. Lee admits to being "totally hooked" and acknowledges the activity as "definitely gambling," having spent an estimated HK$100,000 (about $12,800 USD) over two years on the machines, a sum equivalent to half her annual salary. She described the frustration of repeatedly failing to win prizes, even for lower-value toys, despite significant investment.

For a HK$70 toy, you might eventually spend 700, or even 1,700, and still not be able to grab it.

— Neiki LeeDescribing the disproportionate cost and effort required to win prizes.

Gambling counselors like Chu Ho Ming are observing an increase in young people engaging with games that exhibit "gambling elements." Chu explains that the "sunk cost fallacy" keeps players trapped in an addictive loop, making it difficult to walk away after investing time and money. He noted that some machines are designed with "traps," leading players to feel they have lost out and driving them to continue playing.

I really want to give it up. Every day I scold myself and tell myself to quit: no more, no more.

— Neiki LeeExpressing her struggle to quit the addictive habit.

Claw machine operators have largely operated without strict oversight since a 2022 court ruling exempted them from needing public entertainment licenses. This has allowed the industry to expand, but a sharp rise in public complaints has pushed Hong Kong authorities to propose new regulations. Suggestions include capping prize values at HK$300, aligning with practices in countries like Britain and Singapore. Industry insiders, such as claw machine shop owner Matthew Chan, believe tighter regulations are necessary, citing a decline in consumer confidence and operators increasing machine difficulty to maintain player engagement.

When you put money in but don’t get anything back, you feel like you’ve lost out. Yet it keeps driving you to play.

— Tommy YuA player explaining the psychological pull to continue playing despite losses.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog