Hong Kong has legalized basketball betting, giving you a regulated option in a market once ruled by underground play.
Lawmakers Approve Basketball Betting Bill
Hong Kong’s legislature voted 77 to 2 in favor of basketball betting. It’s the first time since 2003 that the city has added a new sports market. The system mirrors what’s already in place for soccer, with the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) running licensed operations.
The government set the duty at 50 percent of net profits. Officials expect that to bring in HK$1.5 to HK$2 billion a year. With Hong Kong carrying a record deficit of around HK$87 billion, every dollar matters. The HKJC already sent back more than HK$40 billion in 2023/24 through tax, duty and donations, showing how central it is to the city’s finances.
The aim isn’t only money. Lawmakers stressed they want to pull betting away from offshore operators. The HKJC estimates underground basketball turnover hit as much as HK$90 billion in 2024, with over 400,000 people involved.
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Why Basketball Was Next in Line
Basketball is already a betting staple in Asia, with the NBA leading the way. From a Celtics–Nets game tipping off at 8 a.m. Hong Kong time to the late-night buzz of the Lakers, there’s always a game to follow — and always someone ready to have a wager on it.
The sport’s pull goes far beyond viewers in North America. S&P Global surveys found that more than half of adults in China watch NBA games, compared with about one in four in the U.S. That matters in Hong Kong, where fans follow both the NBA and the local CBA.
The league’s own numbers underline the reach: over 75 percent of its social media followers are outside the U.S., and NBA videos drew a record 26 billion views worldwide last season. With that kind of audience, it’s no surprise lawmakers wanted basketball inside the legal betting market. Add in EuroLeague clashes and the CBA, and the calendar is packed.
The HKJC has argued that leaving such demand to offshore sites only drains money from the city. By putting basketball under its license, the club says it can provide regulated odds while keeping tax receipts at home.
Not Everyone Backed the Bill
Some lawmakers weren’t convinced. Education-sector representative Chu Kwok-keung warned that soccer betting, legalized in 2003, hadn’t stamped out illegal play and feared basketball would draw in more people. Tik Chi-yuen echoed the concern, calling the bill “one more avenue” that risks embedding gambling in daily life.
Alice Mak, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, pushed back. She said the policy is “not about promoting gambling” but about steering residents toward safer options. She promised stricter enforcement and a new youth center aimed at discouraging excessive play, though no launch date has been set.
What Bettors Can Expect
For you, the obvious change is that basketball lines will soon be offered through official HKJC outlets. That means regulated odds, verified payouts and government oversight. Just like with soccer, you can expect limits on deposits and wagers, plus ID checks to keep the system compliant.
The upside is variety. You’ll be able to follow NBA spreads, Asian league totals and in-play markets without stepping outside licensed channels. Instead of testing offshore books, you’ll get a local operator with decades of experience. If you already track NBA picks during the regular season, you’ll now be able to follow similar markets legally through Hong Kong’s system.
The Future of Basketball Betting in Hong Kong
Adding basketball shows just how important betting has become to Hong Kong’s economy. It strengthens the HKJC’s position and signals how seriously the government views gambling as a source of revenue.
What comes next will depend on the details: how sharp the odds are, how smoothly bets are placed and whether the legal markets can keep pace with what offshore operators once offered. Plenty of Hong Kong fans were already following the NBA with a stake on the line. Now they’ll be able to do it legally through HKJC and in the long run, that will matter more than anything said in the legislature.
