The Hong Kong SAR Government is accelerating the legalization process of basketball betting. If implemented, this would be another major adjustment to Hong Kong's gambling policy since the legalization of football betting in 2003.
In February this year, the Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, first mentioned the possibility of regulating basketball betting in the 2025-26 budget. This week, the Civil Affairs and Youth Affairs Bureau officially announced the launch of a public consultation to explore the inclusion of basketball in the legal gambling system.
1. Why basketball? The illegal market is huge, and the government seeks to "divert" the black market
Currently, only horse racing and football betting are allowed in Hong Kong, both exclusively operated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC). However, as basketball's popularity soars in Hong Kong—especially NBA events among the youth—the illegal betting market has rapidly expanded.
According to Jockey Club data, the illegal basketball betting amount in 2024 reached HK$70 billion to HK$90 billion (about US$9 billion to US$11.6 billion), with a 186% increase in participants from the previous year, reaching 430,000 Hong Kong residents.
The government believes that if legal channels are opened, it is expected that 49% of illegal bettors will switch to the Jockey Club platform, significantly weakening the underground bookmakers' space. Additionally, based on the experience of football betting legalization, basketball betting is expected to bring in HK$1.5 billion to HK$2 billion in tax revenue annually for the government, along with additional contributions to charity and social causes.
2. Regulatory framework: Drawing from the football model, strictly preventing youth gambling and local match manipulation
To balance gambling revenue and social risks, the government plans to refer to the current football betting regulatory model and set six core conditions:
Licensing period limits, ensuring regular compliance reviews;
Restrictions on betting types and event scope (such as limiting to overseas leagues, prohibiting betting on Hong Kong team events);
Prohibiting minors from betting, and blocking credit card payments to reduce impulsive spending;
Mandatory requirement for operators to provide anti-gambling publicity and counseling services information.
However, opponents point out that the illegal market did not disappear after the legalization of football betting, but grew in tandem with legal betting.
Legislative Council member Tik Chi-yuen warns that the high-frequency nature of basketball events (such as the NBA's year-round schedule) may exacerbate gambling addiction problems, especially among the youth group—currently, nearly 20% of Hong Kong high school students have been exposed to gambling before adulthood.
3. Policy controversy: Financial temptation VS social cost
Supporters (such as Legislative Council member Horace Cheung) emphasize that legalization can effectively combat illegal high-interest loans and cross-border gambling crimes, and redirect some of the profits back to sports development. However, critics question the government's policy contradiction, claiming it "does not encourage gambling" while expanding legal gambling projects.
Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges stated that the Jockey Club has submitted an operational plan, with the final decision in the hands of the government: "The problem of illegal gambling is obviously very serious, and we can only comply with the policy."
4. Next steps: Public consultation and legislative process
This consultation lasts for one month (until May 2). If successfully passed, basketball betting could be launched before the 2026 NBA season. However, the Legislative Council still needs to amend the Gambling Tax Ordinance and debate the possible social impacts.
Conclusion
The legalization of basketball betting in Hong Kong is essentially a "lesser of two evils" gamble. The government attempts to replace suppression with regulation, but whether it can truly curb the illegal market and prevent the proliferation of youth gambling addiction remains to be seen. As the global wave of sports betting expansion continues, Hong Kong's choice may become an important reference case in Asia.
