HONG KONG - As Spain celebrates its World Cup glory after defeating the Netherlands last night, Christian leaders in Hong Kong are calling for tighter restrictions on football gambling among minors.

In a joint survey of nearly 1,000 Hong Kong citizens below the age of 18, the New Hope Fellowship and the Truth and Light Society found that 6.2% had bet on the World Cup.

Of the minors surveyed, 43% said that the World Cup had been their first experience of gambling.

New Hope Fellowship, which helps gambling addicts turn their lives around, fears there may be as many as 70,000 minors gambling, out of 1.2 million minors living in Hong Kong.

It warned that minors were more likely to become addicted to gambling than older people, and that they were borrowing money in order to place bets.

The survey found that among those surveyed, 28% had placed bets through their parents or relatives.

It is illegal for people below the age of 18 to bet in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Jockey Club is the only legal agent to accept bets on football gambling.

Mok Yuk Lan, Executive Secretary of the New Hope Fellowship, said that Hong Kong leaders should take notice of gambling among minors. She feared that among those who had placed their first bets during the World Cup, would continue gambling after the end of the tournament.

The New Hope Fellowship suggested that parents set good examples for youngsters by not betting on football matches and that youngsters be made aware of the serious negative effects of gambling, particularly the risk of gambling addiction.

The Truth and Light Society said the government should have a stricter policy on gambling and should make greater effort to promote anti-gambling telephone hotlines.