Government urges LegCo to pass Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2023

Hong Kong's Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, urged the Legislative Council on June 21, 2023 to pass the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2023, which would impose an additional football betting duty on the city's football betting operator¹.

Existing betting duty rates would stay unchanged¹.

The bill sets out the duty amount, payment dates and related administrative arrangements¹. Hui said the government had considered several factors, including the affordability of the parent entity of the existing football betting operator, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and external competition facing the city's football betting business¹. The Jockey Club has also undertaken not to reduce its commitment to local charity, he said¹.

The government's stated aim was to raise revenue in the short term¹. The source does not report the outcome of the vote, the debate contributions of individual legislators, or any change to duty rates on horse racing and the Mark Six.

What it means for players

The additional duty falls on the football betting operator, not on bettors directly, and the government said existing betting duty rates remain unchanged¹. The bill does not alter what customers can bet on, how bets are placed or how winnings are paid, based on the announcement. The Jockey Club's stated commitment not to cut its local charity contribution is the only undertaking reported on how the operator would absorb the extra cost¹. Whether the operator adjusts football betting menus, limits or pricing in response has not been reported.

What happens next

The bill was before the Legislative Council for resumption of its second reading debate on June 21, 2023¹. The government said it wanted the bill passed so the additional duty could be implemented as early as possible¹. The source does not state when the vote was held or when the duty would take effect.

For background on how betting duty works in the region, see Betting Duty, GST and Franchise Tax on Horse Racing Bets and Recent and Pending Gambling Law Changes in Asia. For the Hong Kong market itself, see Can I Gamble in Hong Kong? and How to Open a Jockey Club Betting Account.