In Hong Kong, passion for the Mark Six lottery borders on obsession for many citizens. Long queues form hours before the biweekly draws, and fervent hopefuls dream of a life-changing winning streak. Whether this national fixation signals unhealthy addiction or merely reflects harmless escapist fantasy, understanding both sides illuminates the lottery’s complex social role.
In the past, a single ticket cost just HK$5 ($0.62), but that price doubled to HK$10 in 2010. Lottery organisers argued that a price hike was necessary to sustain the business. It also came as the minimum first prize amount rose from HK$5 million to HK$8 million.
The game itself is straightforward, with players purchasing a ticket and selecting the numbers of their choice. The HKJC publishes the results of each draw in newspapers and on television. Online websites offer real-time results and provide Hot and Cold number statistics. The HKJC also provides a Smart Pick option, which randomly selects your numbers for you.
When a player matches all six winning numbers, they win the jackpot, which is typically HK$8 million but can grow even larger. Each drawing also has seven prize divisions ranging from the jackpot to a fixed prize of HK$40 for matching just three of the winning numbers.
The lottery’s popularity is fueled by the staggering potential payouts. With jackpots sometimes swelling above HK$100 million, many perceive it as their only potential avenue to financial security, however slim the odds. Punishing living costs and yawning inequality further inflame this yearning for this miraculous escape from gruelling work and unaffordable home ownership.
While a small percentage of lottery winners can be considered escapist fantasies, many others are more than happy with their modest rewards. British housewife Viv Nicholson, for example, went from earning 7 pounds per week to becoming a multimillionaire by playing the lottery. But she soon lost her riches by spending herself into bankruptcy.
Despite the fact that Hong Kong’s border with mainland China reopened in mid-January, tourist arrivals have been slow to recover. This is partly due to mandatory quarantine and proof-of-vaccine requirements, which Hong Kong aligned with in the wake of the pandemic’s zero-Covid-19 strategy.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board plans to start a flight-ticket lottery this month that will give away free airfare to travelers from Southeast Asia, mainland China, and the rest of the world. Details on how to enter the lottery will be announced shortly, and the campaign is expected to run until May. Those hoping to make up for lost travel time should visit the “World of Winners” splash page starting March 1 to register. The competition is open to anyone who is 18 or over and has a valid passport. The tickets will be allocated in three waves: from March to people living in Southeast Asia, then from April to people living in mainland China, and finally from May to residents of the rest of the world. The lottery is managed by HKJC Lotteries Limited and is subject to the Lotteries Rules and Betting Facilities Rules as published by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.