The Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 has been gazetted to regulate basketball betting in Hong Kong. The bill grants licensing powers, sets duty rates at 50% of net stakes, and expands the Betting and Lotteries Commission's role. The government aims to minimize gambling impacts, especially on youth, and to combat illegal gambling. The bill is scheduled for first reading in the Legislative Council on July 2.
This article was generated using SAMS, an AI technology by Timothy Loh LLP.
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The Government published the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Gazette on June 20.
The primary objective of the Bill is to amend the Betting Duty Ordinance (Cap. 108) and related subsidiary legislation to establish a regulatory framework for basketball betting.
This framework empowers the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs to issue licenses for basketball betting and impose associated licensing conditions.
The bill sets the betting duty rate at 50 percent of net stake receipts, matching the rate for football betting duty.
The functions of the Betting and Lotteries Commission will be expanded to include the regulation of basketball betting.
The government's policy on gambling is to discourage it and tackle gambling-related issues through a multipronged approach.
The Bill includes provisions to license the Hong Kong Jockey Club for basketball betting and impose conditions to mitigate the public, especially youth, from negative impacts of gambling.
Collaboration with the Ping Wo Fund Advisory Committee will be intensified to enhance publicity and counselling for youth.
Additional resources will be allocated to a new youth-focused counselling centre, and public education efforts will underscore the illegality of illegal gambling.
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