Hong Kong's Executive Council advised and the Chief Executive ordered on 17 June 2025 that the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 be introduced into the Legislative Council, and that The Hong Kong Jockey Club's proposals to increase simulcast racing be accepted1.
The bill, referred to in the Legislative Council brief as Proposal A, would establish a regulatory regime for basketball betting modeled on the existing football betting regime1. Under the plan, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs would be granted power to issue a basketball betting license to a company, which the brief states is to be HKJC, and to impose licensing conditions1. Betting duty on basketball would be charged at 50% of net stake receipts, the same approach currently used for football betting1. The functions of the Betting and Lotteries Commission would be expanded to cover basketball betting1.
The brief sets out licensing conditions including that the licensed operator must not accept bets on basketball matches involving Hong Kong teams or matches taking place in Hong Kong, must not accept bets from juveniles, and must not accept credit betting1. The Government may also impose restrictions on the number of bet types and classes of competitions, and a fixed duration must be set on the licensing period1.
The brief cites HKJC figures on illegal basketball betting. It states that around 100 000 to 150 000 Hong Kong bettors bet illegally on basketball in 2023, a 68% year-on-year increase, with estimated annual illegal turnover of HK$32 billion to HK$34 billion1. It adds that the number of illegal basketball bettors soared by 186% in 2024, with around 430 000 Hong Kong residents having bet illegally on basketball that year, and illegal market turnover estimated at around HK$70 billion to HK$90 billion1.
Proposal B covers simulcast racing. The maximum number of non-local races simulcast on local race days would rise from 25 to 40 for the 2025/26 racing season, and from 40 to 55 from 2026/271. The maximum number of simulcast days would rise from 37 to 53 for 2025/26, and from 53 to 70 from 2026/271. The brief states that local bets on simulcast races rose from HK$4,496 million in the 2019/20 financial year to HK$10,591 million in 2023/24, an increase of 135.6%1.
"Having carefully considered all relevant factors, BLC recommends that the proposals should be approved."
The brief states that a public consultation on the basketball proposal ran from 2 April to 2 May 2025 and that responses indicated strong support, and that a consultation on the simulcast proposal ran from 20 January to 21 February 2025, also with strong support1.
| Proposal | Change | 2025/26 | From 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simulcast races per season | Maximum non-local races on local race days | 25 to 40 | 40 to 55 |
| Simulcast days | Maximum non-local race days | 37 to 53 | 53 to 70 |
What it means for players
Basketball betting in Hong Kong is not currently among the authorized outlets, which the brief lists as horse racing, football betting and Mark Six Lottery as organized by HKJC, plus certain activities authorized under the Gambling Ordinance such as mahjong parlors1. If the bill passes, basketball betting would move into a licensed channel run by HKJC, with the conditions above attached. Bets on matches involving Hong Kong teams or played in Hong Kong would not be accepted by the licensed operator1. Credit betting and bets from juveniles would also be prohibited1.
For racing, the changes would widen the number of overseas races and days available to bet on through HKJC's simulcast and commingling arrangements, which the brief links to its World Pool operations1. The brief states that previous increases in simulcast opportunities were followed by reductions in illegal betting website visitations, around 41% cumulatively after the 2021 expansion and an average of around 12% after the 2023 expansion1.
What happens next
The bill is due for publication in the Gazette on 20 June 2025, with First Reading and commencement of the Second Reading Debate on 2 July 20251. The brief states that the racing quota system has taken effect since December 20231.
Sources1 sources
- Legislative Council brief, hyab.gov.hk
