Hong Kong’s Legislative Council has passed a bill legalizing basketball betting, introducing a 50 percent tax on net stake receipts, matching the existing rate for soccer wagering.
The Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 cleared its third reading with 77 votes in favor, two against, and two abstentions out of 83 lawmakers present. The legislation authorizes the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs to issue licenses for basketball betting, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) expected to be the sole licensed operator.
Opposing votes came from lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen, representing the social welfare sector, and Chu Kwok-keung, representing the education sector. Abstentions included medical sector representative David Lam Tzit-yuen and election committee member Andrew Lam Siu-lo, who later explained he had intended to vote in favor but pressed the wrong button.
The amendment establishes a regulatory framework covering licensing conditions, tax collection, and oversight by the Betting and Lotteries Commission. Home and Youth Affairs Secretary Alice Mak said the government will coordinate with the HKJC to finalize an implementation timeline. The official emphasized that the legislation is intended to curb illegal betting rather than encourage gambling, noting that additional resources will be allocated for public education and youth counseling services.
The government also announced it will expand the Ping Wo Fund’s outreach, adding a fifth counseling center dedicated to youth education on gambling risks. The Ping Wo Fund is a government-established institution that finances preventive and remedial measures to address gambling-related problems.
Debate highlights support and concerns
According to local media reports, most lawmakers supported the bill, arguing that it could redirect significant sums away from unregulated platforms and into legal, regulated channels. Bill Committee Chairman Chan Chun-ying said the legislation would “redirect funds flowing into the illegal market toward regulated and safer channels,” enhancing oversight and generating additional government revenue.
Last year, during discussions on legalizing basketball betting, HKJC Chief Executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges mentioned that about 560,000 Hong Kong residents wagered with illegal bookmakers, with 100,000 to 150,000 of them betting on basketball. The illegal sports betting market is estimated at HK$350 billion ($45 billion), with basketball accounting for 15 percent, or HK$52.5 billion ($6.7 billion). Legal basketball betting could generate turnover comparable to the HKJC’s soccer wagering business.
In the debate, opponents warned of potential social costs. David Lam Tzit-yuen argued that “legal does not mean harmless, and regulation does not mean harm reduction,” pointing to soccer betting’s limited effect in curbing illegal gambling since its legalization in 2003. Lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung added that young people remain especially vulnerable to gambling-related harm.
With basketball betting now legalized, the HKJC is set to expand its role as the city’s sole licensed sports wagering operator alongside horse racing and soccer. It is also worth noting that the Hong Kong Jockey Club is actively promoting horse racing tourism. In October last year, Hong Kong authorities considered the possibility of relaxing age restrictions to allow teenagers under 18 to attend horse racing events.
