The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Premier League footballer urges Hong Kong to legalise betting after struggling clubs quit

Hong Kong football career ‘difficult way to live’, says under-23 international Jerry Lam, who argues allowing gambling could raise interest

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Under-23 international Jerry Lam’s dream is to represent Hong Kong at senior level. Photo: Instagram/@llyjerry_19

Paul McNamara

Published: 7:45am, 25 Jun 2024

Resources Capital midfielder Jerry Lam Lok-yin said he was “shocked” to learn second-hand his club had quit the Hong Kong Premier League, and urged legalised gambling to be considered to help boost finances.

RCFC called time on their four-year stay in the top division after attracting average attendances of 350 during 2023-24.

Lam and his teammates had heard various rumours about RCFC’s potential fate, including mooted mergers with Sham Shui Po, since also relegated, or Kowloon City, who hope to replace one of them. But Lam said they received no communication from club chiefs, who opted to relegate themselves.

The 22-year-old is in the final stages of securing a contract with another HKPL club for next season and said the uncertainty around football in the city made playing professionally “a difficult way to live”.

Jerry Lam was the latest player to call for a relaxation of football gambling laws. Photo: Instagram/@llyjerry_19

Lam called for the legalisation of gambling on local matches, to generate “excitement” around the HKPL. His view echoed that of the Hong Kong player of the season, Philip Chan Siu-kwan, who recently urged authorities to lift the betting ban.