Hong Kong Officials Clarify Basketball Betting Plan Aims to Combat Illegal Gambling, Not Raise Revenue

Hong Kong officials have reiterated that the government’s proposal to legalize betting on basketball games is not motivated by the desire to generate additional tax revenue but is instead intended to offer a legal, regulated alternative to illicit gambling activities. The move would involve an amendment to the Betting Duty Ordinance, granting The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC)—currently the city’s sole authorized betting operator—the right to accept wagers on basketball. At present, the HKJC is permitted to offer betting only on horse racing, football, and lottery games.

Under the proposed legislation, basketball wagers would be taxed at the same 50 percent rate that currently applies to football betting. The HKJC would also be tasked with strengthening its responsible gambling measures, with a particular focus on protecting younger demographics who are especially engaged with basketball.

Although some observers have speculated that the change could help alleviate government fiscal pressures, officials have made it clear that boosting tax income is not the intention. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak addressed this directly during ongoing deliberations in the Legislative Council, stating, “The purpose is to offer a regulated platform for those who are already betting, so they’re not pushed toward illegal channels.” Mak acknowledged that some feedback during the public consultation phase included views that basketball betting could contribute to narrowing the budget deficit, but she was firm in clarifying that this is not the administration’s driving objective.

“The purpose is to offer a regulated platform for those who are already betting, so they’re not pushed toward illegal channels,” Mak said. She further emphasized that the government “has no intention of encouraging gambling,” but instead aims to ensure that those who choose to gamble can do so in a safe and controlled environment.

While discussions continue, specific details regarding implementation—such as the launch date for basketball betting and how the enhanced safeguards will be deployed—remain under review. If approved, the initiative would represent a rare instance of expansion within Hong Kong’s tightly regulated gambling regime, which has historically taken a cautious and conservative stance toward legal betting.

By fLEXI tEAM