The government of Hong Kong is inching closer to legal betting on NBA basketball. Punters may be able to bet on the upcoming season, which begins in October.
Hong Kong’s 2024-25 budget, released 26 February, included a proposal for legal wagers on the sport.
A similar proposal failed to gain traction in the 2024 legislative session. But this year, the odds may be in its favour for financial reasons.
The Chinese special administrative region (SAR) faces a budget deficit of more than HK$100 billion (£102 million/€124 million/$128.6 million). That’s more than twice the shortfall projected at the start of 2024.
Hong Kong’s economy grew 2.5% in 2024, down from 3.2% in 2023. Trade tensions with the United States could deepen the SAR’s fiscal crisis. In response, the cash-strapped government is laying off tens of thousands of civil servants and searching for new sources of revenue. An expanded gaming industry could help.
Tapping a billion-dollar revenue stream
In his annual budget spe..