3 minute read
The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) welcomes the approval granted by the HKSAR Government (“HKSARG”) to progressively increase Simulcast quotas over two racing seasons starting from 2025/26.
The maximum number of Simulcast Races will be increased from the existing 25 to 40 from 2025/26 and to 55 from 2026/27, while the maximum number of Simulcast Days will be increased from 37 to 53 in 2025/26 and to 70 in 2026/27. The Club believes this arrangement will help tackle illegal betting by channeling betting demand to its legal channel.
As a longstanding partner of the HKSARG, the Club has long supported its efforts to combat illegal betting. This includes providing legal and regulated gambling channels to prevent the public from betting illegally. With this increase in Simulcast quotas, the Club's fixtures will cover most of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities World's Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races. This will strengthen the Club's position and efforts to combat illegal betting on non-local horse racing.
As a world-class racing and sports organisation, which always calls Hong Kong home, the proposal will support the Club's efforts to promote the internationalisation of Hong Kong racing, thereby supporting HKSARG initiatives to tell good stories about Hong Kong and promote racing tourism. It will also foster global and local racing business development and enhance Hong Kong's status as a leading jurisdiction in the global racing arena, as well as providing more tax revenue and contributions to support social betterment.