• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Saturday 6 September 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Hong Kong legislator reignites push to add basketball to legal betting options

Pierce Chan by Pierce Chan
Mon 17 Feb 2025 at 18:20
Amax shareholders approve company name change, mobile games apps sale

Hong Kong

13
SHARES
324
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

At the stage of collecting opinions on Hong Kong’s budget, a legislator has again suggested the government that should allow Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) to offer basketball betting in order to increase the government’s tax revenue.

The comments, from Ronick Chan, follow a period of discussion last year on whether to liberalize basketball betting in Hong Kong. In the end it was not mentioned in the budget and the matter was not discussed again, however in the new quarterly budget, the issue of basketball betting and wagering has again been raised by some members.

In an interview with Sing Tao Daily, Ronick Chan Chun-ying said that liberalizing basketball betting could not only increase government tax revenue but also reduce illegal bookmaking.

“Instead of banning it, we should manage it,” he said. “There is a lot of illegal gambling on basketball matches such as the NBA and CBA, and it is practically impossible to ban them completely.”

Chan pointed out in the interview that “it would be better to allow the HKJC [to include basketball betting] as a regular betting item, which will bring more than a billion dollars of betting duty revenue for the treasury every year and will also reduce crime”.

Last month, the Hong Kong branch of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) published a proposal on the budget which mentioned that basketball should be included in the scope of betting.

ACCA also pointed out that if the Hong Kong government opens up basketball betting, it would be in line with market trends and would help to expand the tax revenue as well as prevent illegal gambling activities.

Under current Hong Kong law, legal betting activities are restricted to horse racing, football betting, Mark Six and licensed mahjong parlors.

Betting is available in-person, over the telephone and via the HKJC’s online portal.

The (HKJC) was naturally among those last year to push for the addition of basketball betting. In an interview with local media in March 2024, the HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said there were between 100,000 and 150,000 people in Hong Kong betting on basketball via illegal basketball channels, with the amount of money involved estimated at more than HK$50 billion (US$6.4 billion).

Engelbrecht-Bresges noted that if basketball betting was legalized, at least 50% to 60% of those people would switch to betting through the legal market.

However, then Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the Hong Kong Government had no intention to legalize basketball betting because it was not the right direction, would adversely affect young people and increase the number of people participating in betting.

RelatedPosts

Summit Ascent shareholders pave way for Suncity to take majority stake

LET Group and Summit Ascent report improved 1H25 performance on Tigre de Cristal upgrades, addition of export business in Russia

Mon 1 Sep 2025 at 05:16
Melco prices US$750 million Senior Notes offering

Melco Resorts parent Melco International back in the black with US$45 million 1H25 profit

Sun 31 Aug 2025 at 08:45
All your sports entertainment with SABA Sports – always fair and sharp since 1998

All your sports entertainment with SABA Sports – always fair and sharp since 1998

Fri 29 Aug 2025 at 18:57
Analysts puzzled as combined market cap of Macau concessionaires falls back to 2022 COVID levels

Hong Kong Stock Exchange confirms delisting of LET Group and Summit Ascent scheduled for 1 September

Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 05:32
Load More
Tags: BasketballHong KongHong Kong Jockey Clubsports betting
Share5Share1
Pierce Chan

Pierce Chan

With more than five years’ experience working as a journalist in Macau, Pierce is an experienced media operator with strong skills in news writing and editing. He previously worked with Exmoo, first as a reporter covering government, gaming and tourism-related stories, then as a Deputy Assignment Editor helping set the agenda of the day. Pierce is a graduate of the University of Macau.

Current Issue

Editorial – Flipping the script

Editorial – Flipping the script

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:30

This month represents an important milestone for Inside Asian Gaming as we launch IAG EXPO – an expansion of the...

Asia market roundup

Asia market roundup

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 12:26

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the state of Asia-Pacific’s key gaming markets: who’s hot, who’s not and...

Rewriting the rules

Rewriting the rules

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:43

IAG EXPO, taking place at Newport World Resorts from 8 to 10 September, is not your usual trade show. IAG...

Test of character

Test of character

by Newsdesk
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 11:28

Since its establishment in 1989, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has developed into the world’s most trusted name when it comes...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
NWR
NWR

Related Posts

Vietnam’s new Van Don integrated resort project scheduled for 2032 opening

Vietnam’s new Van Don integrated resort project scheduled for 2032 opening

by Ben Blaschke
Sat 6 Sep 2025 at 09:34

A new US$2 billion integrated resort to be built by Vietnamese development giant Sun Group in Van Don, Quang Ninh Province is planned to open in 2032, the company has informed Vietnam’s central government. The update, reported by local media...

IAG announces 19 sponsors of IAG EXPO’s Manila After Dark Official Welcome Event at Newport World Resorts on Monday 8 September

IAG announces 19 sponsors of IAG EXPO’s Manila After Dark Official Welcome Event at Newport World Resorts on Monday 8 September

by Newsdesk
Fri 5 Sep 2025 at 10:26

Inside Asian Gaming is delighted to announce a total of 19 sponsors for Manila After Dark (MAD) next Monday 8 September – the official welcome event for IAG EXPO, taking place at Manila’s Newport World Resorts. Running from 8 to 10 September,...

MGM Cotai

Bill Hornbuckle: Macau promotional environment now locked in place despite rapid return of VIPs

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 5 Sep 2025 at 06:45

Macau’s notoriously aggressive promotional environment has settled into a rhythm, according to MGM Resorts CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle – despite competition in the premium gaming segments rising as former junket players return to the city in swathes. Hornbuckle discussed...

AGEM Index up 14.4% in October on Aristocrat, Light & Wonder stock price gains

AGEM Index grows 5% in August as Konami, Aristocrat show strong stock performance

by Newsdesk
Fri 5 Sep 2025 at 05:56

The AGEM Index – a monthly stock performance guide comprising 10 global gaming suppliers – grew by 5.0% month-on-month or 93.66 points to 1,983.73 points in August, with Konami seeing the largest positive contribution. Konami had only last month been...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English