Hong Kong Basketball Betting Bill Passes Third Reading, Revenues Will Help Ease Gov’t Deficit

Hong Kong’s parliament has given its final approval to a bill that will legalize betting on pro basketball games.

The Hong Kong Legislative Council voted in favor of the draft law in its third reading on September 11.

The Chinese-language newspaper Caixin reported that the Hong Kong government hopes the move will help raise funds for its treasury.

The newspaper noted that the government has been running a fiscal deficit for six consecutive years.

The bill’s passage through the council has not been without controversy. Several high-profile critics have claimed that allowing citizens to place bets on basketball games will not discourage the rapid rise of illegal sports betting platforms.

Hong Kong Basketball Betting Law ‘Will Help Fight Illegal Gambling’

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Home Affairs and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen claimed that the government “does not encourage gambling.”

She said the government would continue to address the problem of illegal gambling “through strict law enforcement.”

Mak also vowed to step up public awareness campaigns and education programs, as well as counseling services for people with betting addictions.

The minister said the move would help redirect illegal gambling funds into “restricted and regulated channels.”

The draft law, officially the Amended Betting Duty Bill of 2025, grants the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) basketball betting licensing rights.

The HKJC is Hong Kong’s sole regulatory body for sports betting. It also has permits for horse racing and soccer (football). It is also charged with creating betting models and setting relevant licensing conditions for operators.

Bill Echoes Soccer Tax Laws

The bill also stipulates that basketball betting in Hong Kong must adhere to the same rules currently in place for soccer betting. Hong Kong soccer bets are subject to 50% tax levies on net stake receipts.

Despite the prior criticism of the bill, only two lawmakers voted against it, with two others abstaining from the vote.

The HKJC has advocated for the legalization of basketball betting for several years. It claims that the illegal pro basketball betting market in Hong Kong is now worth up to $11.5 billion.

In the financial year 2023-24, taxes on the HKJC raised a total of HKD 29.9 billion ($3.8 billion) in revenues.

The regulator is unlikely to open books on the current Hong Kong A1 Division Championship season, which runs from September to April. Instead, observers think that betting markets will officially open in time for the 2026-2027 season.