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Special administrative region
Asia
ISO HK
Review due

Hong Kong: gambling regulation and licensing

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China

Part of China

  • Online sports bettingMonopoly
  • Online casinoProhibited
  • Online pokerProhibited
  • Lottery and iLotteryMonopoly
  • Horse race bettingMonopoly
  • Prediction marketsProhibited
Regulator
Home and Youth Affairs Bureau
Headline tax
50% GGR
Licence required
Yes
Last verified
23 Sept 2026

Summary

Hong Kong allows gambling only where the law expressly permits it, and all commercial betting runs through one operator. The Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148) makes gambling unlawful apart from social gaming, small licensed activities such as mahjong parlours and amusement games with prizes, and what the Betting Duty Ordinance (Cap. 108) authorises. Under Cap. 108 the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs licenses horse race betting, football betting and the Mark Six lottery, and every licence is held by The Hong Kong Jockey Club group, which also takes bets online. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau sets policy, advised by the statutory Betting and Lotteries Commission; the Police enforce and the Inland Revenue Department collects duty. Duty is heavy: 72.5% to 75% of net stake receipts on local horse racing, 50% on football plus a special duty of HK$2.4 billion a year until March 2028, and 25% of Mark Six proceeds. Bets and sweeps tax brought in HK$28.5 billion in 2024-25. There is no casino gaming, online or on land. Taking bets placed from Hong Kong offshore is punishable by up to HK$5 million and 7 years, and betting with an unlawful bookmaker is an offence for the player. The age limit is 18. Basketball betting was legislated in September 2025, but in April 2026 the Government halted the rollout, citing the growth of prediction markets, which it treats as illegal gambling. During the 2026 World Cup the Police arrested 991 people in an illegal gambling operation.

Common pitfalls

Assuming an offshore licence gives cover: taking bets placed from Hong Kong is an offence wherever the bookmaker is, and so is betting with one. Assuming basketball betting is live because the law passed: no licence has been issued. Treating prediction market contracts as investment products: the Government treats them as gambling, and they have no protection under the Securities and Futures Ordinance.

Key facts

Regulator
Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB)
Regulator type
Government ministry
Headline tax
50% GGR
Licence required
Yes
Minimum age
18+
Tax base
Football betting duty is 50% of net stake receipts, bets accepted less dividends payable in the charging period, subject to statutory adjustments (Cap. 108, ss. 6J to 6L). Horse race betting duty on local races is charged on net stake receipts at 72.5% on the first HK$11 billion, rising in HK$1 billion bands through 73%, 73.5%, 74% and 74.5% to 75% on the remainder (Schedule 1); non-local races are charged at 72.5% (Schedule 3). Lotteries are charged 25% of proceeds and cash-sweeps 30% of the amount subscribed. The 2026-27 Budget records bets and sweeps tax of HK$28.51 billion for 2024-25 (actual) and HK$28.1 billion for 2025-26 (revised estimate).
Currency
HKD
Official languages
Chinese, English

How to get a gambling licence in Hong Kong

Online sports betting in Hong Kong is a state monopoly: only a single state-owned or designated operator is permitted.

The regulator is the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB).

We record 5 licence types for Hong Kong.

Fee basis
Gambling Ordinance licences (Cap. 148, s. 22): Prescribed fee.
Licence term
Horse race betting licence (Cap. 108, s. 6GB): Specified in the licence
Headline tax
50% GGR (see Taxation for the full position)

Built from the record on this page, last verified 23 Sept 2026. The Licensing and Taxation sections carry the full detail and sources.

Licensing

Licence required
Yes
Application window
Not yet verified
Local establishment required
Not yet verified
Local server required
Not yet verified
Barriers to entry
There is no competitive licensing. Betting and lottery licences are issued at the Secretary's discretion to a company that passes a fit and proper test, and in practice all of them are held by The Hong Kong Jockey Club group. The licensee cannot amend its constitution without the Secretary's approval (Cap. 108, s. 6ZB). There is no licence route for online casino or poker, and taking bets from Hong Kong without authorisation is a criminal offence.

Licence types

  • Horse race betting licence (Cap. 108, s. 6GB)

    Scope
    Fixed odds and pari-mutuel betting on local and non-local horse races, including by website and mobile application. Held by The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
    Term
    Specified in the licence

  • Football betting licence (Cap. 108, s. 6I)

    Scope
    Fixed odds and pari-mutuel betting on football matches, with limits on bet types and competitions and no bets on matches involving Hong Kong teams or played in Hong Kong. Held by HKJC Football Betting Limited.
    Term
    Five years from 18 July 2025 for the current licence
    Renewal terms
    Renewed by the Government after consulting the Betting and Lotteries Commission

  • Lottery licence (Cap. 108, s. 6X)

    Scope
    The Mark Six lottery, run by The Hong Kong Jockey Club; 54% of proceeds must go to prizes and 15% to the Lotteries Fund.
    Term
    Specified in the licence

  • Basketball betting licence (Cap. 108, s. 6WH)

    Scope
    Enacted in 2025 but not issued; the Government halted the rollout in April 2026.

  • Gambling Ordinance licences (Cap. 148, s. 22)

    Scope
    Club lotteries, tombola, amusement games with prizes in licensed places of public entertainment, trade promotion competitions, and mahjong or tin kau premises. Issued by the public officer appointed by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, for a single event or for 12 months.
    Term
    Single event or 12 months
    Fee basis
    Prescribed fee
    Renewal terms
    Renewable for 12 months; decisions can be appealed to the Administrative Appeals Board within 28 days

Taxation

Headline GGR tax
50% GGR
Effective date
Not yet verified
Tax base
Football betting duty is 50% of net stake receipts, bets accepted less dividends payable in the charging period, subject to statutory adjustments (Cap. 108, ss. 6J to 6L). Horse race betting duty on local races is charged on net stake receipts at 72.5% on the first HK$11 billion, rising in HK$1 billion bands through 73%, 73.5%, 74% and 74.5% to 75% on the remainder (Schedule 1); non-local races are charged at 72.5% (Schedule 3). Lotteries are charged 25% of proceeds and cash-sweeps 30% of the amount subscribed. The 2026-27 Budget records bets and sweeps tax of HK$28.51 billion for 2024-25 (actual) and HK$28.1 billion for 2025-26 (revised estimate).

Scheduled changes

  • No special football betting duty unless extended by legislation from 1 Apr 2028
    Enacted

    The special football betting duty covers dutiable periods only up to the one ending 31 March 2028

  • 50% of net stake receipts from Enacted in 2025; applies only once a basketball betting licence is issued, and the rollout was halted in April 2026
    Enacted

    Basketball betting duty (Cap. 108, s. 6WI)

Earmarked levies

  • Horse race betting duty: 72.5% to 75% of net stake receipts on local races, progressive; 72.5% on non-local races (Government general revenue, collected by the Inland Revenue Department)
  • Special football betting duty: HK$2.4 billion a year, charged on the football betting conductor for each year from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028 (Government general revenue)
  • Lottery duty and allocation: 25% of proceeds as duty; 54% to prizes; 15% to the Lotteries Fund; 6% may be retained as commission (Government general revenue and the Lotteries Fund)
  • Cash-sweep duty: 30% of the amount paid, contributed or subscribed (Government general revenue)

Compliance

Minimum age
18+
National self-exclusion
Not yet verified
KYC requirements
Not yet verified
Stake limits
Not yet verified
Mandatory player messaging
Every licensee must conspicuously display notices warning of the seriousness of problems caused by excessive gambling and giving information on services for problem and pathological gamblers, in betting premises and on any website and mobile application through which it accepts bets (Cap. 108, ss. 6GB(4)(g), 6I(4)(g), 6WH(4)(g) and 6X(4)(g)).
Reporting obligations
Licensees must keep records, produce them for inspection and give the Collector of Inland Revenue the information needed to assess duty (Cap. 108, ss. 6ZK to 6ZM). The Secretary may issue codes of practice on compliance with licence conditions (s. 6ZC).
Game content restrictions
The categories of races and matches and the number of bet types are set by licence conditions. Football bets on matches involving Hong Kong teams or played in Hong Kong are not accepted.

Advertising

Advertising permitted
Yes
Watershed
Statutory television and radio blackout for the licensed operator: 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily for football, basketball and lotteries; for horse racing the same on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at weekends.
Affiliate rules
Receiving bets as an agent, transmitting bets, deposits or winnings, or arranging betting accounts for a bookmaker counts as promoting or facilitating bookmaking (Cap. 148, s. 16C), unless the bet can only be placed, or is placed, by a person outside Hong Kong (ss. 16A(2) and 16B(2)).
Mandatory warnings
Problem gambling warning and help information must be displayed on licensees' premises, websites and mobile applications.
Penalties for breach
For the licensee, breach of a licence condition can lead to financial penalties of up to HK$500,000, HK$1 million and then HK$5 million for successive penalties, or revocation (Cap. 108, ss. 6ZE and 6ZF). For anyone else, promoting unlawful betting is a criminal offence under the Gambling Ordinance.

Restrictions

  • Only the licensed operator may advertise lawful betting; exhibiting or distributing advertisements that promote bookmaking or betting with a bookmaker is an offence of promoting or facilitating bookmaking (Cap. 148, ss. 16A to 16C), carrying up to HK$5 million and 7 years.
  • Licensed horse race betting may not be advertised on television or radio between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays or between 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on other days (Cap. 108, s. 6GB(4)(d)).
  • Football betting, basketball betting and lotteries may not be advertised on television or radio between 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on any day (Cap. 108, ss. 6I(4)(d), 6WH(4)(d) and 6X(4)(d)).
  • Advertising and promotion by licensees must not target juveniles, exaggerate the likelihood of winning, or suggest that betting is a source of income or a way out of financial difficulty.
  • Broadcasting forecasts, odds or tips on horse, pony or dog races within 12 hours of the race is an offence unless the race is one on which authorised betting is conducted (Cap. 148, s. 16E).

Payments

Credit card ban
Yes
Crypto stance
Not yet verified
Payment blocking regime
There is no statutory payment blocking order. Receiving or transmitting deposits or winnings for an unlawful bookmaker is an offence of promoting or facilitating bookmaking (Cap. 148, s. 16C), and providing money knowing it is for unlawful gambling carries up to HK$500,000 and 7 years (s. 14). Licensees may not accept bets on credit or credit cards as payment (Cap. 108, ss. 6GB(4)(f), 6I(4)(f), 6WH(4)(f) and 6X(4)(f)).

Enforcement

ISP blocking
Not yet verified
DNS blocking
Not yet verified
Payment blocking
Not yet verified
App store takedowns
Not yet verified
Administrative penalties
For licensees: financial penalties of up to HK$500,000 on the first occasion, HK$1 million on the second and HK$5 million thereafter, variation of licence conditions and revocation, appealable to an Appeal Board (Cap. 108, ss. 6ZD to 6ZI)
Criminal penalties
Up to HK$5 million and 7 years for operating a gambling establishment, bookmaking (including offshore bookmaking on bets from Hong Kong), promoting or facilitating bookmaking and running an unlawful lottery; up to HK$1 million and 10 years for cheating at gambling; forfeiture of money and property used in unlawful gambling (Cap. 148, ss. 5, 7, 9, 16, 16A, 16B and 26)
Operator liability
An offshore operator that receives, negotiates or settles outside Hong Kong a bet placed from Hong Kong commits an offence (Cap. 148, s. 7(1A)). The Police state that a person who takes part in running a gambling website from Hong Kong is liable even if the site is hosted overseas.
Player liability
Betting with a bookmaker is an offence whether the bet is received in or outside Hong Kong, with fines at levels 3 to 5 and up to 9 months in prison on a third conviction (Cap. 148, s. 8). The Government and the Police put the maximum at HK$50,000 and nine months.

Notable actions

  • Illegal bookmaking and gambling operations during the 2026 FIFA World Cup (operations CROWBEAK and WINDSHIELD)21 Jul 2026

    991 people arrested and 249 premises raided in June and July 2026; betting records of HK$365 million, about HK$3 million in cash and HK$4.4 million in valuables seized

  • Bribery facilitated match-fixing and illegal bookmaking syndicate in local football (operation Double-edged)23 Jun 2026

    19 people arrested by the ICAC and the Police, including a serving coach and serving and former players

  • Illegal bookmaking websites (operation Nearspace)24 Jun 2024

    62 people arrested for conspiracy to commit bookmaking and money laundering, including five core members and 32 stooge account holders; more than HK$460 million involved

Timeline

  1. 21 Jun 2023

    Legislative Council passes the special football betting duty of HK$2.4 billion a year for 2023-24 to 2027-28

  2. 2 Apr 2025

    Government consults on basketball betting and renews the football betting licence for five years from 18 July 2025

  3. 20 Jun 2025

    Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 on basketball betting gazetted

  4. 11 Sept 2025

    Legislative Council passes the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025

  5. 14 Apr 2026

    Government halts the basketball betting rollout, citing the growth of prediction markets

  6. 17 Apr 2026

    Investor and Financial Education Council warns that trading on prediction markets may constitute illegal gambling

  7. 11 May 2026

    Government puts proposals to reform amusement games with prizes licensing to a Legislative Council panel

  8. 23 Jun 2026

    ICAC and Police arrest 19 in a football match-fixing and illegal bookmaking case

  9. 21 Jul 2026

    Police report 991 arrests in the 2026 World Cup illegal gambling operation

Outlook

Watch whether the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau issues the basketball betting licence it can already grant under Cap. 108, s. 6WH; it has given no timetable and ties the decision to prediction markets. Watch too whether the amusement games with prizes proposals put to the Legislative Council in May 2026 become a bill. The special football betting duty ends with the year to 31 March 2028, so any extension would need new legislation. The current football betting licence runs to July 2030.

Frequently asked questions

Who is allowed to take bets in Hong Kong?
Only companies licensed under the Betting Duty Ordinance (Cap. 108), and all of those licences, for horse racing, football and the Mark Six, are held by The Hong Kong Jockey Club group.
Is it illegal to bet with an offshore website from Hong Kong?
Yes. Betting with a bookmaker is an offence whether the bet is received in or outside Hong Kong (Cap. 148, s. 8), with a maximum of HK$50,000 and nine months. Taking such bets is punishable by up to HK$5 million and 7 years (s. 7(1A)).
How is authorised betting taxed?
Horse racing pays 72.5% to 75% of net stake receipts on local races, football pays 50% of net stake receipts plus a special duty of HK$2.4 billion a year until March 2028, and the Mark Six pays 25% of proceeds.
Is basketball betting legal in Hong Kong?
The law allowing it has been in force since September 2025, but no licence has been issued. The Government halted the rollout in April 2026 while it studies prediction markets.
Are prediction markets legal in Hong Kong?
No authorisation exists. The Government described them as a form of illegal gambling in April 2026, and the Investor and Financial Education Council said trading on them may be illegal gambling, although no court has ruled on the point.
What is the minimum gambling age?
18. Licensees may not accept bets from, or pay dividends to, anyone under 18.
How much does a gambling licence cost in Hong Kong?
For the Gambling Ordinance licences (Cap. 148, s. 22): Prescribed fee. Last verified 23 Sept 2026.
Who regulates gambling in Hong Kong?
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) regulates gambling in Hong Kong. Other authorities with a role include Betting and Lotteries Commission and Office of the Licensing Authority, Home Affairs Department.

Glossary and directory

Glossary terms for this profile

iGT coverage of Hong Kong

All 24 articles on Hong Kong →

Sources

Source tiers. Tier 1: the law, official gazette, licence register or regulator itself. Tier 2: other official sources such as ministries, parliaments, courts and statistics agencies. Only tier 1 and tier 2 sources can support a fact on their own.

  1. Cap. 148 Gambling Ordinance (version from 1 July 2022)

    Hong Kong e-Legislation, Department of Justice

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 1 Jul 2022
  2. Cap. 108 Betting Duty Ordinance (version from 19 September 2025, as amended by Ordinance No. 38 of 2025)

    Hong Kong e-Legislation, Department of Justice

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 19 Sept 2025
  3. Policy Responsibilities: Gambling (gambling policy, Betting and Lotteries Commission, Ping Wo Fund)

    Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  4. Betting Duty

    Inland Revenue Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  5. LCQ6: Betting duty (Legislative Council question and reply, 15 February 2023)

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 15 Feb 2023
  6. LCQ5: Curbing young people participation in gambling (18 August 2021)

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 18 Aug 2021
  7. Government welcomes passage of Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2023

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 21 Jun 2023
  8. Government launches consultation on proposed regulation of basketball betting activities (includes renewal of the football betting licence)

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 2 Apr 2025
  9. Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 gazetted

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 20 Jun 2025
  10. Remarks by SHYA at media session after passage of Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 11 Sept 2025
  11. Remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at a media session, 14 April 2026 (basketball betting halted)

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 14 Apr 2026
  12. Remarks by CE at media session before ExCo (21 April 2026)

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 21 Apr 2026
  13. Prediction markets and the essence of investment (April 2026)

    Investor and Financial Education Council

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 17 Apr 2026
  14. LCQ19: Regulating claw machine venues and pinball machine shops (29 April 2026)

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 29 Apr 2026
  15. Opening remarks by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at the LegCo Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports, 11 May 2026 (amusement games with prizes licensing)

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 11 May 2026
  16. Ping Wo Fund launches anti-football gambling campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (7 June 2026)

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR (translated)

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 7 Jun 2026
  17. Nineteen netted in joint operation by ICAC and Police during World Cup against bribery facilitated match-fixing illegal bookmaking syndicate

    Independent Commission Against Corruption

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 23 Jun 2026
  18. Police conduct anti-illegal gambling operation during 2026 FIFA World Cup

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 21 Jul 2026
  19. LCQ13: Combating illegal gambling (3 July 2024)

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 3 Jul 2024
  20. Appointment to Betting and Lotteries Commission announced

    Information Services Department, Government of the Hong Kong SAR

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 31 Aug 2026
  21. 2026-27 Estimates, Head 3 Internal Revenue: details of revenue (bets and sweeps tax)

    The Government of the Hong Kong SAR (Budget)

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026

Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.

This page is industry reference information and not legal advice.

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