Hong Kong police have warned football fans that using overseas betting websites or prediction market platforms could result in criminal liability under local gambling laws, as authorities prepare for increased wagering activity during the FIFA World Cup.
The warning was issued days before the start of the expanded 48-team tournament and follows FIFA's decision to enter the prediction markets sector through a partnership with Gibraltar-licensed operator ADI Predictstreet, the governing body's first official partner in the category.
Chief Inspector Wong Yu-fai of Hong Kong Police's Organised Crime and Triad Bureau said that users in Hong Kong could still commit an offence by placing bets through websites that are legally licensed overseas if those services are not authorised locally.
Authorities also warned against using VPNs or other technical methods to access offshore betting services.
Hong Kong maintains one of Asia's more restrictive gambling frameworks. Under the Gambling Ordinance, betting is generally prohibited unless conducted through authorised channels. Legal wagering options are largely limited to football betting, horseracing and the Mark Six Lottery through approved operators.
The warning arrives as prediction markets continue to attract attention from sports organisations and investors. FIFA announced its partnership with ADI Predictstreet in April, describing the arrangement as a fan-engagement initiative built around forecasting match results, player performances and tournament outcomes using official FIFA data.
The platform launched this week ahead of the tournament and is initially available in Gibraltar and selected US jurisdictions.
The rise of prediction markets has also created regulatory debates globally. While some jurisdictions classify such products as event-based financial contracts, others view them as a form of gambling.
Industry observers have noted growing competition between traditional sportsbooks and prediction market operators ahead of the World Cup, which is expected to generate tens of billions of dollars in betting activity worldwide.
Hong Kong police said they recorded 374 serious gambling cases in 2025, resulting in 4,482 arrests. Officers seized more than HK$3m ($382,900) in cash and crime proceeds and uncovered betting records valued at approximately HK$1.1bn.
Last month, Hong Kong Police arrested 164 people during a territory-wide anti-triad operation that dismantled 34 suspected illegal establishments, including alleged gambling dens. The raids formed part of broader enforcement efforts targeting gambling-related organised crime across the territory.
ADI Predictstreet's World Cup platform includes markets on match outcomes, player performance and tournament statistics, using official FIFA historical data
