So, how can you tell the difference? Well, Ho Tai laughs and Buddha looks serious and frequently has his pet dog with him.
Then there are the Foo dogs (actually stylized lions). They come in pairs ~ the female has a cub under a paw, and the other has a ball with a flower of life I believe it's called under his pay.
if you find a setting with a Buddha character, and a couple of lions that look like dogs, that's Buddha. If he's just a seated fat guy having a good time, that's almost always Ho Tai.
More important for you, though, is to learn the difference between Neko Neko and Hello Kitty! (Hint: It's the green sash).
NOTE: the statue we are looking at here looks very much like Ho Tai, but he has that Ball with the Flower of Life under his hand. He could be Buddha ~ giving one of his Foo Dogs a bath (just off stage where you can't see it) ~ hence, it could be Buddha with a Foo Dog's ball!
ha ha! Neko Neko — anime rocks! And foo dog!