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Hong Kong pauses basketball betting launch for prediction markets review

Regulation

Hong Kong's Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said the government had paused preparations for basketball betting while it studies prediction markets. The Hong Kong Jockey Club said it would comply and await further guidance on its licence application; the government said it considered sports betting through prediction markets illegal gambling. Officials cited global trading volume rising from US$16bn in 2024 to US$64bn in 2025.

The government’s review pauses basketball betting preparations and leaves the Jockey Club awaiting licence guidance.

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Hong Kong Jockey Club chief warns UK checks could push bettors offshore

Hong Kong Jockey Club chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said at a private roundtable that Britain’s affordability checks could drive customers to unlicensed operators. He cited findings from the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities linking the checks’ introduction with increased traffic to offshore betting sites; the UK Gambling Commission has defended its pilot.

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