Govt considers expanding legal sports betting to include basketball

The government is contemplating an expansion of legal sports betting to encompass basketball, with a focus on enhancing existing football betting options ahead of the upcoming Budget announcement on Wednesday.

Sources indicate that if basketball betting is legalized, wagers will be limited to overseas leagues, such as the NBA in the US.

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau is expected to consult with the Betting and Lotteries Commission as early as next month, followed by a public consultation lasting a minimum of six months. 

Any proposed changes will be submitted to the Executive Council and, if necessary, reviewed by the Legislative Council.

Lawmaker Adrian Pedro Ho King-hong from the New People’s Party expressed support for the initiative, highlighting basketball's popularity and significant market potential. 

"Basketball, alongside football, is a widely followed sport, and its inclusion in legal betting could generate substantial tax revenue for the government, especially amid the current fiscal deficit," Ho said, estimating that legalizing basketball betting could yield over HK$1 billion annually.

Ronick Chan Chun-ying, chairman of the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee, said that even with user-pay principles applied to public services, the revenue generated may not match the potential income from expanded sports betting.

Lawmaker Peter Douglas Koon Ho-ming, a member of the Betting and Lotteries Commission, said the dual benefits of legalizing basketball betting -- boosting public finances and curbing illegal gambling. 

He added that many citizens currently place bets on basketball through illegal overseas websites, and legalizing these bets could redirect activities to regulated platforms and enhance government oversight.

However, he said the need for public education to protect young people from gambling addiction.
Hong Kong has previously addressed illegal gambling by legalizing football betting in 2003, allowing wagers only on overseas matches to prevent match-fixing in local games. 

A recent report estimated that 560,000 citizens participated in illegal gambling in 2023, marking a five percent increase from the previous year, with losses to illegal bookmakers estimated at HK$15 billion, a significant portion of which is attributed to basketball betting.

Gambling rehabilitation centers have raised concerns that the legalization of basketball betting could make gambling more mainstream. 

Augusta Yim Ting-ling, a psychologist at the Zion Social Service Yuk Lai Hing Counselling Centre, said:

“Some people may not be interested in football, horse racing, or other traditional forms of gambling, but they are avid fans of the NBA and other basketball games. 

“By introducing a basketball betting option, could it spark their curiosity and lead them to try gambling?” 

Yim urged the government to enhance public education to ensure that individuals struggling with gambling addiction know how to seek help and access counseling and treatment services.

(Ayra Wang)