Hong Kong Opens Public Consultation on Legalising Basketball Betting

The Hong Kong government has started a month-long public survey to gather views on a plan that would make basketball betting legal. This marks a big change in the city’s strict gambling rules.

Hong Kong Government Proposes Legalisation of Basketball Betting to Curb Illegal Gambling

The survey, which began on April 2, comes as more people worry about how much illegal basketball betting is happening. The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) thinks this betting reached between HK$70 billion ($9 billion) and HK$90 billion ($11.6 billion) in 2024. The government believes that if they control basketball betting, it could help stop illicit gambling and give people a legal and safe way to bet.

The suggested plan calls for a licensing system to control basketball betting, similar to the one used for soccer betting. The HKJC, the city’s legal betting operator, could apply for the license once lawmakers change the Betting Duty Ordinance.

Officials claim the proposed license would come with tough rules to lower social risks. These would ban people under a certain age from betting, stop credit betting, and prevent bets on games with Hong Kong teams or matches in the city. The operator would also need to push for responsible gambling by showing warning messages and offering information about help for addiction.

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) stressed that gambling is not encouraged as a policy, but they need to deal with real-world demand. A spokesperson pointed out that unregulated gambling might cause more crime and social problems. The government aims to strike a balance between public interest and social protection by restricting legal betting to certain platforms.

Hong Kong Government Acknowledges Challenges in Combating Illegal Betting

The government also pointed out the shortcomings of current methods to crack down on illegal betting, mentioning the challenges that online platforms, cryptocurrencies, and VPNs bring. These tools have made it tougher to keep tabs on shady activities and enforce existing gambling laws.

The government will take into account public input gathered during the consultation along with earlier suggestions from the HKJC and the Betting and Lotteries Commission. The consultation period ends on May 2, 2025.

In a connected decision, officials confirmed they would renew the HKJC’s current soccer betting license for another five-year term beginning July 2025. The license terms will stay the same, including bans on underage betting and wagers made on credit.If given the green light, basketball would become the fourth type of betting allowed in Hong Kong under the Betting Duty Ordinance, joining horse racing, soccer, and the Mark Six lottery.