Most Popular Bookies in Hong Kong

Recently, there's been an upsurge in sports betting in different parts of the globe, and Hong Kong is no exception. This region has many gambling fans itching to explore the ins and outs of this activity to savor its benefits. Most of these individuals derive massive entertainment from wagering on games such as soccer, tennis, esports, horse racing, and boxing. For them, it's more about investing in a fun endeavor than indulging in a profit-making venture.

Hong Kong is also home to another pool of punters that bet on sports to become a part of the online gambling community, enabling them to connect with others and sometimes forge close relationships. Of course, these people often interact via social media outlets to talk about their mutual gambling interests.

Hong Kong Players' Favorite Sports to bet on Biggest Local Tournaments and Events Payment Methods in Hong Kong History of Betting in Hong Kong Betting Nowadays in Hong Kong Popular Sports Betting Bonuses in Hong Kong Future of Betting in Hong Kong Are Bookmakers Legal in Hong Kong?Betting Legislation in Hong Kong Betting Acts in Hong Kong FAQs

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Hong Kong Players' Favorite Sports to bet on

Hong Kongers most enjoy betting on the following sports:

Horse Racing: Gamblers in Hong Kong have always had a penchant for wagering on horse racing, even though this industry is fast declining in other regions around the world. The HKJC divulged that from 2016 to 2017, it processed horse racing bets worth over HK$216.5 billion, and more than HK$21.7 billion was funneled to the government in taxes.
Soccer: A large percentage of Hong Kong's sports lovers comprises football fans who enjoy wagering on it. Fortunately, the HKJC allows them to do so, meaning they don't have to run to offshore bookies to access soccer betting markets.
Basketball: This sport also deserves its spot on this list of Hong Kong players' favorite options. Unfortunately, the HKJC doesn't provide basketball betting markets. But many international bookmakers enable gamblers from this part of the world to bet on it.
Tennis: It's also easy to find tennis bettors in Hong Kong. Most of them wager on various tennis events or matches at foreign bookies allowing them to register. They leverage tricks such as researching different players and their levels and evaluating their performances in recent tournaments to win.

Best Odds for Hong Kong Players

Hong Kongers can only legally wager on horse racing and football through the HKJC. Unfortunately, the betting odds provided by this gambling establishment are not as favorable as those offered by offshore bookies. This could explain why punters are drawn to the latter, which also lets them bet on many other sports, including tennis, MMA, rugby, cricket, boxing, and esports.

Biggest Local Tournaments and Events

Given how much Hong Kongers delight in horse racing betting, the Hong Kong Derby is worth mentioning. It's a yearly Thoroughbred horse race that has been held in the city since 1873. In 1981, it was declared that only four-year-old horses can participate.

The first Hong Kong Derby took place at the Happy Valley Racecourse. However, in 1979, this sport event was permanently moved to the Sha Tin Racecourse, and its popularity continued to surge. This enabled it to bag reputable sponsors such as Mercedes-Benz (2004-2012) and BMW (since 2013).

Remember that the Hong Kong Derby is the last race of the Triple Crown Hong Kong Four-Year-Old Classic Series. Punters can bet on it and other races in this popular horse-racing event, including the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Classic Mile.

Payment Methods in Hong Kong

Choosing the best payment methods is critical to online Hong Kong betting. These systems affect punters' capability to make fast deposits and withdrawals at their sports bookies, consequently determining the quality of their gambling experiences.

Fortunately, Hong Kongers have tons of banking options to consider when betting on sports online, including:

Alipay Hong Kong
Union Pay
Tap&Go
WeChat Pay
PayMe
Visa
MasterCard
Neteller
Skrill
Bank transfers
MuchBetter
ecoPayz
Paysafecard

Notably, the payment methods available vary from one bookie to another. Bettors are charged with picking the most convenient options, ideally after considering the following factors.

Currency: It's recommended that Hong Kongers choose payment options that accept the Hong Kong dollar, especially if they're gambling with real money. Since they don't have to pay conversion fees, they'll have more to bet with.
Security: Hong Kong Sports bettors should prioritize banking methods with reliable security protocols to avoid losing their betting finances or sensitive data.
Transaction fees: The best payment systems for Hong Kong punters charge low or no transaction fees to aid their sports betting undertakings.
Bonuses: Hong Kongers should choose deposit methods that make them eligible for bonuses to allow them to place more bets on their favorite sports.

History of Betting in Hong Kong

Admittedly, the presence of the best online bookmakers in Hong Kong has contributed to the increasing number of sports bettors. These platforms leverage various aspects to snag the latter's attention and keep them hooked.

Great examples include providing reliable payment methods servicing this city, a vast range of betting markets, and simple sites that everyone, including beginners, can navigate easily. Most top-rated online bookies come with exceptional, multi-lingual customer service experts who work around the clock.

For Hong Kongers, betting is a lasting tradition they've followed for over a century. This activity dates back to the 1840s when Britain reigned the city, with horse racing being a top pick for gambling enthusiasts here.

Hong Kong's first racecourse was established in 1845 in Happy Valley, quickly becoming one of the region's most popular spots. Gamblers would congregate there to wager on horse racing. And as decades passed, it became a way of life, a social event that even leaders held in high regard.

For instance, when China attained this city's independence from British rule in 1997, Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese leader at the time, promised its residents that horses would continue racing. After all, it was a fantastic source of entertainment for locals and visitors alike.

Notably, punters in Hong Kong are also known to partake in other betting activities, such as playing the lottery.

Betting Nowadays in Hong Kong

Today, betting in Hong Kong delivers way more thrill than it used to many years ago. In addition to horse racing and the lottery, punters have more sports to wager on, such as soccer, basketball, tennis, rugby, and golf. Perhaps, even more enticing is that they don't need to go to a racecourse or land-based gambling house to place wagers – they can do it online!

Most avid online gamblers in Hong Kong bet on multiple sports because they deem it more satisfying. And in quest of varied betting markets, they register with many bookies, which avail a vast array of promotions to draw them in and earn their loyalty.

Popular Sports Betting Bonuses in Hong Kong

Welcome Bonus

Almost all bookies serving Hong Kong provide bettors with welcome or signup bonuses soon after registering with them. Often, these promos are a certain percentage of the amount they deposit.

Free Bets

As their name suggests, these bonuses are free. Sports bettors can claim free bets without depositing at their bookmaker and utilize them to win real money.

Matched Deposit Bonus

Many bookies in Hong Kong offer matched deposit bonuses. Punters can activate them by making their first real-money deposit to embark on their sports betting journeys.

The amount of a matched deposit bonus usually equals that of the cash deposited. For instance, if one transfers $100 to their online betting account, they qualify for an offer of up to $100.

Reload Bonus

A large portion of sports betting sites in Hong Kong avail reload bonuses for their members once they deposit more money into their accounts. Although these promotions are smaller than the welcome bonuses, they enable the punters to wager on more games.

High-Roller Bonus

Bookmakers save high roller bonuses for "VIP" customers with the largest sports betting bankrolls. These offers are meant to appreciate them and motivate them to reload their accounts.

Cashbacks

Many sports bettors in Hong Kong have received cashback bonuses from their favorite bookies. And they can affirm that these offers are pretty lucrative because they allow them to get a partial repayment of their deposit if they lose. The specific amount returned varies from one betting site to another.

Future of Betting in Hong Kong

Most punters researching "how to bet in/from Hong Kong" also wonder if sports betting has a future in this city - judging from its tremendous popularity as of this writing, yes.

The gambling population here is on an upward trajectory, which is a win for providers since they'll have a broader market to serve. Punters will also have access to more bookmakers, making it easier to accomplish their betting objectives.

Are Bookmakers Legal in Hong Kong?

No. Sports betting activities involving a bookie are illegal in Hong Kong, regardless of if it's a local or foreign platform. Anyone violating this rule is committing an offense punishable by the law.

For example, during the 2020 FIFA World Cup, the authorities apprehended 25 individuals for taking bets worth over HK$66M on the event's matches. This city's police even established a task force to curb the problem of illegal soccer gamblers. Speaking of this, the latter is eligible for the following punishments if caught:

First offense - 3 months jail time and a $10,000 fine
Second offense - 6 months jail time and a $20,000 fine
Third offense - 9 months jail time and a $30,000 fine

Unlawful sports betting providers also face harsh legal consequences as they can be jailed for 2-7 years and forced to pay a fine of $5,000,000.

Although Hong Kongers are prohibited from registering with bookmakers, they can bet at licensed gambling establishments.

Betting Legislation in Hong Kong

According to the law, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is the only legal sports betting provider in this city. The government founded it in 1884 to supervise all lawful betting ventures, such as horse racing, football betting, and lotteries. But it was only declared an official gambling enterprise in 1977.

The HKJC boasts a non-profit organizational structure. Therefore, 79% of the HKJC's profits are put back into improving the economy via charitable donations and taxes. Factually, it's the government's biggest taxpayer.

It's common to find the HKJC holding charities to educate Hong Kongers on responsible gambling practices. Typically, these events aim to increase the economic and social advantages of sports betting while ensuring that this activity doesn't damage bettors' lives.

Betting Acts in Hong Kong

In 1977, the Gambling Ordinance was passed to regulate betting in Hong Kong. Section 2 stipulates that placing wagers on any games on the internet is unlawful unless the HKJC operates the activity. Section 6 prevents punters from betting on sports at home or in public locations and coffee shops since they're not "gambling establishments."

The Hong Kong Gambling Ordinance also has Section 16, which protects sports bettors against being cheated by others.

It's noteworthy that despite these strict laws against online sports betting, Hong Kongers still invest millions in wagering on different games at offshore bookies. With the availability of top-notch IP blocking software, doing so safely is a piece of cake, much to the government's dismay.

FAQs

Is online sports betting legal in Hong Kong?

Wagering on sports online is only lawful via the Hong Kong Jockey Club; doing it at foreign betting websites is a no-go for punters in this region.

How many online bookmakers are there in Hong Kong?

As of this writing, many online betting sites accept punters from Hong Kong, most of whom are foreign.

Can punters bet on eSports in Hong Kong?

Yes. Hong Kongers are at liberty to wager on their preferred esports. But unfortunately, they can't do it on the Hong Kong Jockey Club website since it only provides football betting. The only option is to utilize IP blockers to access foreign bookies offering these electronic sports.

Do Hong Kongers use cryptocurrencies to bet on sports online?

Yes, many gamblers in Hong Kong fund their accounts with digital currencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Ether (ETH), and Tether (USDT).

What is the lawful betting age in Hong Kong?

Under the current law, Hong Kongers can only bet if they are at least 18.

Which sports are Hong Kongers permitted to wager on?

Punters in Hong Kong can bet on any sport they want – they only need to select online bookmakers offering it.