Hong Kong passes basketball betting bill

The bill will the HKJC to offer basketball betting in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong.- The Legislative Council has passed a bill that legalises basketball betting in Hong Kong. Lawmakers today (September 11) approved the proposal by 77 votes to two, with two abstentions.

The Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 authorises the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs to issue licences for basketball betting. The Hong Kong Jockey Club will be the sole licensee, and it will operate under conditions similar to those governing horse racing and football betting.

The document proposes a 50 per cent tax on net profits from basketball betting in line with the existing model for football betting. The government expects the offering to be launched in September 2026, in line with the start of the NBA pre-season. System development is already underway.

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak said that legalising basketball betting would channel money away from illegal gambling sites to regulated platforms. “We will not stop here. To combat illegal gambling, we will continue educational and promotional efforts, as well as conduct tough enforcement actions,” she told reporters after the vote.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club estimates that, once the market matures, annual turnover from authorised basketball betting could reach HK$28bn (US$3.57bn), generating around HK$1.5bn (US$191m) in tax each year.

A survey conducted by the government found that 94 per cent of respondents were in favour of legalising betting on basketball while only 3.4 per cent were opposed. The survey involved 1,063 participants. 

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The bill will the HKJC to offer basketball betting in Hong Kong. Hong Kong.- The Legislative Council has passed a bill that legalises basketball betting in Hong Kong. Lawmakers today…