Hong Kong likely to greenlight basketball betting before the next NBA season
Hong Kong’s government is nearing approval of legal betting on basketball, with punters possibly able to place their bets before the start of the upcoming NBA season in October 2025.
The city’s budget, presented on 26 February, introduced a new proposal to legalise basketball betting. A similar initiative failed during the 2024 legislative session, but mounting financial pressures may improve its chances this year.
Now, this development comes as a Hong Kong legislator has renewed calls for the government to allow the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) to offer basketball betting, arguing that it could generate substantial tax revenue while curbing illegal gambling.
Ronick Chan, a member of the Legislative Council, made these remarks during budget discussions, advocating that legalising basketball betting would strengthen the city’s finances and help regulate unauthorised betting markets.
He emphasised, “Instead of banning it, we should manage it.” Chan further pointed out that incorporating basketball into HKJC’s legal betting offerings could yield over $128 million (€118 million) in annual betting duty revenue for the government.
Game plan for economic recovery
This proposal could also help address the economic challenges facing the Chinese special administrative region, which is grappling with a budget deficit exceeding HK$100 billion (€124 million) i.e. more than twice the initial forecast for early 2024. Hong Kong’s economic growth slowed to 2.5 percent in 2024, down from 3.2 percent in 2023.
Now, with escalating US trade tensions posing further risks to its fiscal stability, the cash-strapped government has started implementing measures, even resorting to slash thousands of civil service jobs while exploring new revenue streams.
Finance Secretary Paul Chan stated in his budget speech that legal basketball betting could generate annual revenue of HK$1.5 billion (€1.8 billion) and “combat illegal betting activities in an effective manner.” Underground sportsbooks reportedly handled between HK$70-90 billion (€86-100 billion) last year.
Currently, Hong Kong permits legal betting only on horse racing, football matches, and public lotteries – all operated by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which will soon submit a proposal to include NBA betting as well. According to the reports, the proposal could be finalised by September, ahead of the 2025/26 NBA season beginning in mid-October.
Opposition mounts over addiction fears
However, the government may call for a public-comment period before legalising basketball betting, as critics have raised concerns over potential risks, particularly gambling addiction. The Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights has condemned the proposal as a “disastrous move” that could normalise sports betting and make gambling more accessible to vulnerable groups, including young people.
The advocacy group expressed serious concerns about gambling’s harmful effects on children and young people, warning that initial gambling expansion often leads to further liberalisation.
