Providing legal channels is a way to satisfy public demand for certain kinds of betting to prevent people from turning to illegal operators, minister says
Hong Kong lawmakers have approved a bill to legalise betting on basketball matches as authorities aim to tackle illegal gambling, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club expected to be the sole operator.
The Legislative Council passed the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025, empowering the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs to issue basketball betting operator licences with specified terms.
The bill also authorises a licensed basketball operator to place bets with other gambling operators for hedging purposes.
The vote on Thursday followed scrutiny by a bills committee in two sessions in July. Seventy-seven lawmakers voted in favour, two abstained and two opposed it.
