Hong Kong’s legislative council has passed the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025, officially legalizing basketball betting and imposing a 50% tax on net profits from this new form of wagering. The bill was approved with a decisive vote of 77 in favor, two abstentions, and two dissenting votes, signaling a major shift in the city’s gambling regulations. The Hong Kong jockey club (HKJC) will serve as the exclusive licensed operator, following the established football betting model dating back to 2003.
Secretary for home and youth affairs Alice Mak praised the new law, highlighting that the move meets increasing public demand for regulated betting options while targeting illegal gambling markets, which the government estimates have an annual turnover between HK$70 billion and HK$90 billion. She emphasized the continuation of educational campaigns and enforcement efforts to curb unlawful gambling and to ensure consumer protection under the newly established legal framework.
The bill aligns basketball betting’s regulatory and fiscal framework with that governing football betting, maintaining a consistent 50% duty on net profits. Hong Kong’s current gambling laws designate the HKJC as the sole operator responsible for overseeing betting activities and enforcing responsible gambling measures. Government oversight will also direct tax revenues generated from basketball betting into public initiatives aimed at benefiting the community.
Economically, the legislation seeks to divert significant revenue from underground betting rings to authorized channels, thus increasing government tax income and reducing social harms linked to illicit gambling.
Authorities anticipate launching operational basketball betting by September 2026, after deploying the necessary technological infrastructure and regulatory protocols. Preventative measures such as counseling services and youth outreach programs are planned to address potential issues related to gambling addiction.
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As Hong Kong embarks on this new regulatory phase, observers will watch closely to see whether the legal framework effectively reduces underground gambling activities or if challenges remain in balancing regulatory enforcement with social risk management.
