01.14.08
Legalized Gambling on Horses in Wuhan?
According to multiple reports (Shanghai Daily, Telegraph, SCMP - subscr.) horse racing and gambling will be legalized on a trial-basis in Wuhan beginning in late 2008 or early 2009. Apparently a Wuhan-based outfit auspiciously called The Orient Lucky Horse Group has received permission from authorities to begin legalized gambling on horses as early as September 2008. While some stories have pointed out that gambling has been banned in China since 1949, that is not technically accurate. Horse racing has existing continuously in Hong Kong and Macau (they’re part of China folks) for well over a hundred years. And, according to The Times of London, horse racing without legal gambling was brought back recently for short periods of time in both Guangzhou (’90s) and Beijing (’00s). Sure, that makes sense. Racing, but no gambling. In China.
The reports say there will be a horse racing “lottery” but it’s unclear what form the gambling will take. Anything other than the ability to choose specific horses to bet on will resemble the indecipherable China Sports Lottery.
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