The optical absorption and emission spectra of two different Ho 3+ doped mixed alkali chloroborate glasses have been studied in the ultraviolet-visible near-infrared regions. Various spectroscopic parameters like Racah (E 1 , E 2 , and E 3 ), spin orbit (ξ 4f ), and configuration interaction (α) parameters have been calculated. From the measured spectral intensities of the various absorption bands of Ho 3+ ion, the Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (Ω 2 , Ω 4 , and Ω 6 ) have been evaluated and covalency was studied as a function of x in the glass matrices. Using these parameters, radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetimes, branching ratios, and integrated absorption cross-sections have been calculated and reported for certain excited states of Ho 3+ ion. From the emission spectra, stimulated emission cross-sections are determined for the emission transitions, 5 F 4 , 5 S 2 → 5 I 8 , and 5 F 5 → 5 I 8 in these two mixed alkali chloroborate glasses. An attempt has been made to throw some light on the environment of Ho 3+ ions in these glass systems by studying the variation in various spectroscopic parameters.