Hong Kongs top financial official, Paul Chan Mo-po, has dismissed a suggestion to decriminalize wagering on basketball. Although certain political groups contended that it would reduce illicit gaming and create income, Chan voiced worries about the signal it would convey, especially to youth. He maintains that authorizing another type of betting could be perceived as the administration endorsing gambling to resolve its budgetary requirements. The Hong Kong Jockey Club, a major player in the wagering sector, backed the proposition, asserting that fresh betting choices are crucial to rival unlawful bookies. The pro-Beijing DAB party was among those who pressed the Finance Secretary to reevaluate his position on basketball wagering.
A Hong Kong legislator, Yan Moon-hong, posits that if the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the current manager of horse racing and soccer wagering, were to broaden its offerings to encompass basketball, it would furnish a secure and legitimate avenue for inhabitants presently participating in illicit basketball gambling due to limited alternatives.
This development coincides with the debut of the fantasy sports platform, Emerald Dream Cricket, in Sri Lanka. This platform empowers users to assemble fantasy cricket squads, vie against others, and potentially secure monetary awards. This underscores the escalating prevalence and desire for varied and captivating betting choices within the Asian marketplace.