Hong Kongs top financial official has rejected a proposal to make basketball wagering legal.
The authority voiced worries that such an action would convey an inappropriate message to youth, possibly leading them to engage in gambling.
As per the South China Morning Post, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po dismissed the suggestion to authorize betting on basketball. Numerous political groups had proposed adding it to the list of permissible gambling choices as a method to counter illicit betting and enhance government income. “Regarding legitimizing additional gambling activities to increase government revenue … I maintain a very cautious stance towards this,” Chan stated, as quoted by the South China Morning Post. “If we were to legalize it, it would have repercussions for our young people, and to a certain degree, it transmits a message that the government is facing financial constraints, we are indifferent to people earning a living from gambling, and we receive a portion of it,” he elaborated. The Hong Kong Jockey Club, a proponent of the proposal, argued that fresh betting avenues were necessary to rival illegal bookmakers. The pro-establishment party DAB was among those who had pressed the Finance Chief to legalize basketball betting.
Legislator Yan Wenyu proposes broadening the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s wagering offerings past equestrian contests to encompass alternative athletic events, notably basketball. This action would furnish a lawful avenue for inhabitants keen on basketball wagering who presently depend on illicit methods. He posits that this would cater to public interest while affording a regulated setting.
In separate Asian gaming developments, a fantasy sports entity named Jade Fantasy Cricket has debuted in Sri Lanka. This platform empowers users to assemble fantasy cricket squads, vie against fellow enthusiasts, and potentially secure monetary awards.