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The Government has issued a licence for conducting football betting to HKJC Football Betting Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary company of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, under the Betting Duty (Amendment) Ordinance, which commenced operation today (July 18).

The Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, said: "The issue of the licence would enable the licensed operator to capture the expected upsurge in demand for football betting arising from the upcoming international football season in August, which would otherwise turn to illegal channels.

Dr Ho pointed out that the primary objective of authorising football betting was to combat the growing problem of illegal football gambling by diverting existing demand for football betting into a regulatory channel.

"The licensing conditions seek to strike a reasonable balance between the need to ensure the competitiveness of authorised football betting against its illegal counterparts locally and round the world; and the need to put in place an adequate regulatory system in order to minimise any negative impact on the community," Dr Ho remarked.

The Government would shortly establish a Football Betting and Lotteries Commission to advise the Secretary for Home Affairs on the licensing and regulatory matters relating to football betting and lotteries, as set out under the (Amendment) Ordinance.

A notice on the commencement of the Betting Duty (Amendment) Ordinance was published in the Gazette today.

End/Friday, July 18, 2003

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