Macau-based sports streaming service M Plus has revealed that nearly 90 percent of its users are involved in sports betting, underscoring the growing overlap between live broadcasts and gambling in the region.
The figure comes from Alan Yung, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at M Plus, who said the relationship between watching and betting on sports has become increasingly intertwined. “Users who place bets tend to pay closer attention to matches,” he told Asia Gaming Brief. “Without money on the line, some wouldn’t watch at all.”
For the unaware, M Plus was launched in 2017 and offers live coverage of football and basketball, including major leagues such as the English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, and the NBA. The platform was developed in response to the growing demand for on-demand access to matches, especially when multiple games occur simultaneously.
Yung argued that traditional TV limits access to certain matches, which usually disappoints some fans, especially those who place bets. To address this, M Plus allows viewers to stream games through its app, charging MOP 15 (€1.75) per match or MOP 2,980 (€347.50) for an annual subscription.
M Plus joins Macau SLOT for betting
While many of its users are gamblers, M Plus itself does not run betting services. It partners with Macau SLOT, the city’s sole licensed provider of lottery and sports betting, which is owned by STDM, the parent company of casino operator SJM.
Data from Macau’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) shows that football made up 66 percent of all legal sports wagers in 2024, while basketball accounted for 33 percent. The combined revenue from betting and lottery reached MOP 57.66 billion (€6.7 billion). Other forms of betting, such as horse racing, contributed very little before being discontinued in April 2024.
Surreal craze? HK debates Basketball betting
Even in neighbouring Hong Kong, the government is considering changes to allow legal basketball betting. During his 2025 budget speech, Financial Secretary Paul Chan confirmed that the Hong Kong Jockey Club had been asked to propose a framework for such a system.
If approved, the new model would mirror the city’s current football betting setup and apply a 50 percent tax rate. Officials estimate that it could generate HK$1.5 billion (approximately €177 million) in annual tax revenue by its fourth year.
Observers say Hong Kong’s move may intensify competition in the region and could prompt Macau to reassess its approach to regulating sports betting.
