Hong Kong authorities are investigating a sharp increase in complaints regarding rigged claw machines and misleading business practices.

Complaints against Hong Kong claw machine operators have skyrocketed by more than 760 per cent over the past three years, driven by anger over misleading displays, rigged settings and poor-quality prizes, the city’s consumer watchdog has said. Figures shared by the Consumer Council on Monday showed that the number of reported grievances involving claw machines had gone from 16 in 2023 to 49 in 2024, before surging to 138 last year. The watchdog also highlighted a case involving a complainant who...