The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government’s decision to grant the Club permission to increase the maximum number of simulcast days per year by 14 days, from a total of 23 days to 37 days, and allowing simulcast days to take place during the summer (from July to August) starting from 2021.
This arrangement addresses Hong Kong public betting demands on overseas races particularly during the summer breaks between Hong Kong’s racing seasons every year and assists the Government in achieving its goal of combating illegal betting activities.
Hong Kong racing has been able to establish a leading position in world racing in the past decade, Hong Kong-trained horses and international Group 1 races featured regularly in the global rankings. As a result of the globalisation of horse racing, local racing fans have become more interested in overseas top class races.
“During the summer break of Hong Kong’s racing, it is the peak season of overseas racing particularly in Europe, and the illegal and offshore bookmakers have taken advantage of this time gap to lure Hong Kong people to place bets on overseas races. As such, the approval of extra simulcast days in the summer will effectively address the existing illegal gambling issues while at the same time generate additional betting duty as well as charities donations, and create additional job opportunities which will benefit the Hong Kong community as a whole,” a Club spokesperson said.
In addition, the Club believes that the offering of simulcast betting on overseas races in summer will further strengthen Hong Kong as a racing hub. Racing jurisdictions worldwide will also welcome this new initiative for the promotion of globalisation of horse racing.
The Club will continue to implement the highest standard of responsible gambling (RG) measures across betting channels. In 2018, the Club was for the third consecutive time awarded the level Four RG accreditation, the highest international level, by the World Lottery Association.
