According to the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, 94% of 1,063 respondents to the survey backed the proposal during a consultation exercise.

These findings have now been submitted to the Legislative Council for review, as authorities work toward formalising the regulatory framework.

The proposed amendment to the Betting Duty Ordinance would authorise regulated basketball wagering in Hong Kong under a single-operator model.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), which has lobbied for basketball betting, is expected to receive the exclusive licence, similar to its existing role in operating authorised football betting.

A 50% tax on net betting proceeds is proposed, defined as the total stakes collected minus the amount paid out to winning bettors.

This model replicates the taxation structure already applied to legal football gambling in the region.

Speaking on 8 June, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak acknowledged the scale of illegal basketball gambling and described the legalisation effort as a pragmatic solution to counter unregulated activity.

Mak stated that the government views the introduction of legal basketball betting not as a revenue-generating initiative, but as a public safety measure to curb unlawful betting and the crimes often linked to it.

She described the policy shift as a “last resort” to channel illicit gambling into a regulated environment.

The proposed regulatory framework includes a series of restrictions intended to mitigate gambling-related harm.

Under the outlined conditions, the licensed operator will not be permitted to accept bets on games involving local Hong Kong teams or matches taking place within the city.

Further safeguards include prohibitions on credit card betting and a blanket ban on wagers placed by individuals under the legal gambling age.

 

More emphasis on responsible gambling

 

Authorities have emphasised that responsible gambling remains central to the initiative.

The Hong Kong government has committed to increasing the availability of support services in anticipation of potential rises in gambling participation.

A new gambling counselling centre—the fifth of its kind in Hong Kong—will be established with a special focus on youth support.

This new facility will offer both treatment and educational programming tailored to individuals aged 18 to 21, a group currently representing less than 2% of the gambling population.

Funding for the new centre will partly come from additional contributions to the Ping Wo Fund, a public fund managed by the government to promote responsible gambling and support problem gamblers.

The fund receives regular donations from the HKJC and supports education, prevention, and counselling services across the territory.

As part of a broader review of problem gambling infrastructure, the government is also evaluating existing support services to ensure they meet evolving needs, especially among younger populations who may be more susceptible to problem gambling.

The Legislative Council’s Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports will soon deliberate on the results of the public consultation.

Legislative procedures are expected to proceed in the coming weeks, bringing Hong Kong closer to formalising legal basketball betting under a tightly controlled and socially responsible framework.

 

 

 

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