Hong Kong lawmakers approve basketball betting legislation

Summary

Hong Kong’s legislature has passed the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 to legalise basketball betting, adopting a regulatory approach similar to the city’s long-standing football wagering framework. The bill was approved on 11 September with 77 votes in favour, two against and two abstentions. Key elements include a 50% duty on net profits from basketball betting and the power for the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Alice Mak, to grant a licence to the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), expected to be the exclusive operator.

The government says the reform is intended to shift wagering away from illegal operators into a regulated market, while strengthening enforcement, youth education and support services. Under the Ping Wo Fund a fifth education and support centre will be established to focus on youth engagement and problem-gambling awareness. The HKJC estimates illegal basketball betting turnover of HK$70bn–HK$90bn in 2024, with roughly 430,000 residents using unlicensed platforms. The law could generate an estimated HK$1.5bn–HK$2bn in annual revenue; the formal launch date will follow publication in the Hong Kong Gazette.

Key Points

Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 passed on 11 September by 77–2–2 votes.
The law imposes a 50% duty on net profits from basketball betting.
The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs can grant a licence to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which is expected to be the exclusive licensee.
Government rationale: move bettors from illegal operators to a regulated market and provide consumer protections.
Enforcement will be strengthened and additional youth-focused education/support measures will be funded via the Ping Wo Fund.
HKJC estimates illegal basketball betting turnover at HK$70bn–HK$90bn in 2024 and around 430,000 residents wagering with unlicensed platforms.
Projected fiscal benefit: HK$1.5bn–HK$2bn in annual tax revenue, according to the Financial Secretary’s earlier estimates.
Concerns remain about social harms and a possible trend toward younger gamblers, citing the post-2003 football betting experience.
Final implementation timetable awaits publication of the ruling in the Hong Kong Gazette.

Context and relevance

This is a notable regulatory shift for Hong Kong and the wider iGaming ecosystem. It extends formal regulation beyond football — the first expansion of that legal betting framework in over two decades — and signals the government’s preference for channeling high-volume, illicit activity into taxable, monitored platforms. The move will matter to operators, payment providers, compliance teams and public-health advocates, and fits broader regional trends where regulators balance revenue needs with harm-minimisation measures.

Why should I read this?

Short version: if you work in iGaming, payments, compliance, regulation or public policy — you need to know this. Hong Kong is converting a massive black-market basketball betting market into a taxed, regulated one. That changes market access, licensing opportunities, compliance burdens and enforcement focus. Also, if you care about gambling harm or youth protection, the safeguards and funding changes are worth noting.

Author style

Punchy: This is a significant, practical change — not a policy paper. It opens an enforceable, taxable market and forces operators and regulators to adapt fast. Read the detail if you want to understand licence scope, tax rates and planned youth-protection measures.

Source

Source: https://next.io/news/regulation/hong-kong-approve-basketball-betting-legislation/