The hongkong lottery has been a popular game since 1975. The numbers are drawn every Friday and winners can win large sums of money by picking six numbers. The odds of winning the first prize are one in 13. The game is regulated to ensure fairness and transparency. It is also easy to play and accessible from anywhere in the world.
In a country where youth unemployment is high, lottery wins are seen as a way to break the vicious cycle of debt and low wages. Many of Chen’s followers are young people, and one-third of them are below the age of 23. China has suspended the release of youth unemployment figures, but soaring income inequality means that more and more young Chinese are turning to lottery winnings to improve their lives.
Hong Kong’s customs department is catching smugglers who are trying to ship Mark Six tickets to Macau and mainland China, according to online news portal HK01. Officials intercepted a river vessel that was bringing 16,000 lottery tickets from the city to Macau and mainland China. Most of the tickets were already redeemable for prizes worth a total of around HK$70,000.
Lonely Planet has partnered with Hong Kong International Airport to give away free airline tickets for the next Mark Six drawing, which will be held on May 19. The giveaway opened to residents of Southeast Asia on March 1, then shifted to include travellers from Beijing and Shanghai on April 1. Travellers from Seoul can apply now, and those from Japan and Taiwan can do so starting in June. The competition will eventually open to travellers from Europe and the US, but details haven’t yet been announced.