The Government of Hong Kong has launched a consultation on the regulation of basketball betting activities, proposing a licensing regime modelled on existing football betting regulations to combat illegal betting.
This article was generated using SAMS, an AI technology by Timothy Loh LLP.
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The Hong Kong government has initiated a consultation process on the proposed regulation of basketball betting activities, addressing public concerns about the prevalence of illegal basketball betting in the territory. The Hong Kong Jockey Club ("HKJC") has reported that illegal basketball betting turnover reached between $70 billion and $90 billion in 2024.
The government's plan includes amending the Betting Duty Ordinance to establish a regulatory framework. This framework will allow the Home and Youth Affairs Secretary to issue licenses to the HKJC for basketball betting, with conditions aimed at mitigating the negative impact on younger individuals. The proposed regulation encompasses fixed licensing durations, restrictions on various types of bets, prohibitions on betting on local teams or matches, restrictions on credit betting and underage gambling, and mandatory notifications about gambling-related issues and services for gambling disorders.
The consultation document and related submissions can be accessed on the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau website or sent via mail, fax, or email by May 2, 2025. Additionally, the government has renewed the HKJC's football betting license for an extended period of five years, under the same conditions as the existing framework.
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