Targeting illegal gambling, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government launched on Wednesday a public consultation on the proposed regulation of basketball betting activities.
The HKSAR government said in a statement that it was launching the consultation and proposing a regulatory regime for basketball betting modeled on legal football betting after considering the proposal submitted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, views from the Betting and Lotteries Commission, and other related issues.
"As a matter of policy, the government does not encourage gambling,” a spokesman for the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said.
“There is, however, undeniably an actual and persistent demand for gambling in Hong Kong which, if left unregulated, would likely give rise to illegal gambling activities and associated social problems and other criminal activities.”
Members of the public have expressed concerns in recent years about the problem of illegal basketball betting in Hong Kong, according to the statement.
Based on the latest assessment of the HKJC, the turnover of illegal basketball betting reached HK$70 billion ($8.99 billion) to HK$90 billion in 2024.
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The SAR currently allows only a limited number of authorized gambling outlets, including authorizing the HKJC to conduct horse race betting, Mark Six Lottery and football betting in accordance with the Betting Duty Ordinance.
To combat illegal betting activities effectively, the HKSAR government announced in the 2025-26 Budget that it will explore regulating basketball betting activities.
By amending the Betting Duty Ordinance, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs will be granted the power to issue a license for basketball betting to the HKJC and to impose licensing conditions to minimize the negative impact of gambling on the public, especially on young people.
Mirroring the regulatory regime on football betting, major licensing conditions of the proposed regulation of basketball betting activities include prohibitions on accepting bets from juveniles and on accepting credit betting.
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The licensed operator should not accept bets on basketball matches involving Hong Kong teams and matches that take places in Hong Kong, to promote a betting-free and healthy environment for the sport in the city, according to the statement.
It should also display warnings about the seriousness of excessive gambling and provide information on the services available for those with gambling disorder, it added.
Meanwhile, the HKSAR government said it has decided to renew the license for football betting of the HKJC Football Betting Ltd for five years starting July 18, 2025 after consultations with the BLC.
