• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Friday 29 August 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

Government to discuss legalizing basketball betting with Hong Kong Jockey Club

Pierce Chan by Pierce Chan
Wed 26 Feb 2025 at 13:24
Government to discuss legalizing basketball betting with Hong Kong Jockey Club

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan

15
SHARES
368
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, said the government will explore the possibility of allowing basketball betting and has invited the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) to discuss it.

In response, the HKJC stated its intention to submit a “detailed proposal” to the government.

When the Hong Kong government announced its new budget on Wednesday morning it was expected the issue of adding basketball to the SAR’s small list of legal betting activities would be raised. Over the past month, some Hong Kong legislators have suggested government should legalize basketball betting in order to raise revenue and combat illegal betting.

Chan duly addressed the issue in the new budget, commenting, “In combating illegal gambling, many members of the community have been concerned about illegal basketball betting in recent years. According to the latest assessment of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, illegal basketball betting amounted to as much as HK$70 billion to HK$90 billion (US$8.75 billion to US$11.3 billion) last year.”

However, Chan did not confirm whether basketball betting would actually be implemented or whether there was a timetable for exploring the possibility, stating only, “To combat illegal basketball betting, the government will actively explore the authorization of basketball betting activities and will invite the Hong Kong Jockey Club to submit proposals.”

In a statement issued hours after Chan’s budget speech, the HKJC said it “welcomes and fully supports the announcement of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government … that it will invite the Club to submit a proposal to implement regulated basketball betting.

“The Club agrees that there is a strong case for taking this important step as an effective means to combat and arrest the rising trend of illegal basketball betting, which leads to numerous social problems, such as loan sharking and underage gambling. According to the Club’s estimates, the turnover of illegal basketball betting has reached around HK$70 billion to HK$90 billion last year.

“As a not-for-profit sports and charity organisation rooted in Hong Kong for 140 years, with the sole purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of society, the Club has for decades been the trusted partner of the [government] in conducting a legal and responsible gambling regime under the laws of Hong Kong. The Club’s unique Integrated Business Model has proven itself time and again to be the best and most effective way of combatting illegal betting. The extension of the regulated regime to basketball betting will not only support the [government’s] efforts and enhance its effectiveness in combatting illegal betting but will also strengthen the sustainability of the Club’s contribution to the community through impactful charity donations and significant tax revenues to the [government]. It is a matter of public interest.

“The Club will submit a detailed proposal to the [government] shortly. We look forward to working closely with the [government] to implement this important policy initiative as soon as possible.”

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

Over the past two years, many people in Hong Kong have proposed legalizing basketball betting, and the Hong Kong Jockey Club also strived to legalize basketball betting last year. However, at that time Chan rejected the proposal, pointing out that the Hong Kong government had no intention of taking such action.

RelatedPosts

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
How Indian affiliates earn and scale with 1xPartners

How Indian affiliates earn and scale with 1xPartners

Fri 22 Aug 2025 at 05:32
Comtrade Gaming strengthens Brazilian presence with Betaki partnership

Comtrade Gaming strengthens Brazilian presence with Betaki partnership

Thu 21 Aug 2025 at 04:40
SABA Sports unveils high-speed, AI-powered odds feed at SBC Summit Lisbon

SABA Sports unveils high-speed, AI-powered odds feed at SBC Summit Lisbon

Wed 20 Aug 2025 at 19:29
Load More
Tags: BasketballbudgetHong KongHong Kong Jockey ClubPaul Chansports betting
Share6Share1
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
HKUST
NWR

Related Posts

Australia’s Star Entertainment Group says available cash halved in December 2024 quarter as liquidity crunch bites again

Star Entertainment Group falls to AU$471.5 million loss in FY25 as remediation, regulatory hurdles continue to bite

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 29 Aug 2025 at 07:38

Australia’s Star Entertainment Group has reported a statutory loss of AU$471.5 million (US$308 million) for the financial year ended 30 June 2025, impacted by a 29% year-on-year decline in group-wide revenue including a 37% fall in gaming revenue. Although the...

Resorts World Las Vegas – Lighting up the north

Recovery of VIP gaming business helps Genting’s Resorts World Las Vegas book improved revenues of US$180 million in 2Q25

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 29 Aug 2025 at 05:30

Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV), the US flagship of Malaysian gaming giant Genting Berhad, saw revenues grow by 8% quarter-on-quarter to US$180 million and EBITDA by 80% to US$18 million in 2Q25, with the company pointing to improved hold and...

Asia market roundup

Higher business volumes, margins at Resorts World Genting drive improved 2Q25 results for Genting Malaysia

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 29 Aug 2025 at 05:09

Genting Malaysia reported group-wide revenue of MYR2.92 billion (US$692 million) in the three months to 30 June 2025, up 9% year-on-year thanks to improvements across all regions including a 10% increase in revenue at flagship Resorts World Genting (RWG) in...

Sands China celebrates 1.1 billion cumulative visitors to its Macau resorts

Sands China celebrates 1.1 billion cumulative visitors to its Macau resorts

by Pierce Chan
Thu 28 Aug 2025 at 19:09

Sands China has now welcomed more than 1.1 billion guests across its Macau integrated resorts, representing a significant milestone in its more than 20-year history operating in Macau, the company stated Thursday. In an announcement that also coincided with the...

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