Hong Kong authorities to discuss basketball betting limits with Jockey Club

Hong Kong authorities are planning to engage the Jockey Club for discussions on adjusting the maximum betting limits for basketball to provide a regulated channel for such activities, as the government moves to legalise wagering for the sport.

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Saturday that lawmakers previously suggested the government review the maximum wagers for basketball as they scrutinised the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025.

She said the Jockey Club, which is set to become the sole licensed basketball betting operator, currently had limited wagers for legal offerings for other sports.

Horse racing and football bets are capped at HK$50,000 (US$6,370) per individual wager. Each betting account has a daily total stake limit of HK$500,000.

“The bill provides a legal framework under which the home and youth affairs chief is empowered to issue licences for betting activities. When these licences are issued, licensing conditions can be included,” she told a radio programme.

“We will later discuss with the Jockey Club to assess the technical feasibility and how to handle it so that we can provide a regulated and limited channel for betting, and the public will engage in controlled gambling.”