Hong Kong police warn FIFA fans to avoid illegal betting sites
Hong Kong police have issued a warning to FIFA and football fans to think twice before placing bets on overseas gambling websites. Reportedly, the authorities have warned that residents could still be breaking local gambling laws, even if those platforms are licensed and operating legally in other parts of the world.
The warning comes as betting activity is expected to rise sharply during the tournament, which begins on 11 June. Police said that under Hong Kong law, wagers placed through unauthorised bookmakers remain illegal, regardless of where the operator is located or regulated.
Chief Inspector Wong Yu-fai of the Hong Kong Police Force’s Organised Crime and Triad Bureau said some online gambling platforms promote themselves as legally registered overseas, creating confusion among users. However, Wong stressed that Hong Kong residents who place bets through such websites may still be committing an offence under local law.
The advisory follows FIFA’s decision earlier this year to appoint its first official prediction market partner for the 2026 World Cup. The platform, Gibraltar-registered ADI Predictstreet, allows users to make predictions on match results, player performances and tournament statistics.
While police did not specifically mention any company, officials believe that the recent warning is largely linked to prediction and betting platforms entering international sporting events available only in select jurisdictions. And so, it is not necessarily legal for Hong Kong residents to access.
No use of VPN
Authorities also warned against attempts to bypass geographical restrictions through virtual private networks (VPNs) or similar technologies. According to police, the key issue is whether money is wagered with an unauthorised bookmaker rather than how a user accesses the platform.
The concern is not without reason. Despite a decline in overall cases last year, illegal betting continues to grow during major events. In 2025, the police handled 374 serious gambling cases, leading to 4,482 arrests. Authorities also seized more than HK$3 million (US$383,000) in cash and crime proceeds, while betting slips and records linked to HK$1.1 billion (US$140 million) worth of wagers were uncovered.
Previous tournaments have shown how quickly illegal betting activity can escalate. During Euro 2024, police arrested 735 people in gambling-related operations, while the 2022 FIFA World Cup led to 1,104 arrests as authorities targeted unlawful betting networks across the city.
Eyes over syndicates
Officials say that illegal betting operations are now moving online, with syndicates now using websites, social media and messaging apps to reach customers instead of relying on traditional bookmaker networks. While that has made investigations more complicated, authorities say these groups have become far more active around major sporting events.
Officials also warned that people using illegal betting platforms are also sharing their private data. According to police, users often hand over personal information such as phone numbers and bank account details, which can end up in the hands of criminal networks.
Authorities added that some illegal bookmaking groups are believed to have links to organised crime syndicates, including triads. Gamblers who accumulate debts could become vulnerable to exploitation or pressure to assist with other criminal activities.
And so, with the World Cup just around the corner, police have urged residents to use only authorised channels and to remain cautious of overseas betting platforms targeting Hong Kong users during the tournament.
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