Hong Kong’s Legislative Council recently introduced the 2025 Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill, marking its first regulatory framework for basketball betting. The law aims to curb illegal gambling by offering a safe, legal alternative.
Limited Impact on Macau
Despite this development, Macau’s operators remain unshaken—largely because basketball betting represents a minor share of total wagers.
According to the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), revenue data supports this view. In 2024, the “Games of Fortune” category generated around MOP 2.93 billion (€32.3 million). In the sports betting segment, football brought in MOP 534 million (€59 million), while basketball betting contributed just MOP 211 million (€23 million)—making football more than 2.5 times more profitable.
This heavy reliance on football and horse racing means Hong Kong’s basketball betting reforms are unlikely to significantly disrupt Macau’s market position, especially in the short term. Macau’s sports betting sector is tightly regulated, with strict licensing and market access rules that favor existing operators.
Built-In Advantages
Macau Slot also benefits from robust infrastructure and strong market penetration, enhancing its resilience to external policy shifts. While Hong Kong’s new regulations focus on domestic basketball leagues—with age restrictions and bans on betting on local teams—Macau continues to center its offerings on international sports. This further limits direct competition.
Macau Slot expects Hong Kong’s reforms are primarily aimed at steering local bettors away from illegal platforms rather than drawing them into the Macau market. As such, the company anticipates minimal disruption to its core operations in the short term.
While Hong Kong’s actions signal a shift in gambling policy, Macau’s seasoned operators view the changes as a localized issue with limited influence on their mature and specialized sports wagering industry.
