Latest News
Growth in Overseas Wagering on Hong Kong Racing Leads to Overall Turnover Increase
HKJC contributes record HK$35.9 billion (£3.6 billion) to community as racing turnover totals HK$141.1 billion (£14.3 billion)
Following its annual general meeting (AGM) on September 5, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) announced its results for the 2022/23 financial year ended June 30, 2023.
This was a challenging year for the HKJC, with the first seven months dominated by the pandemic and the HKJC impacted by the post-pandemic economic slowdown, with macro-economic trends indicating that the business environment will continue to be very difficult.
While local turnover on Hong Kong racing was down 1.3%, this was offset by the HKJC’s successful strategy to widen its customer and revenue base by exporting its world-class racing overseas via commingling. Last season, commingling on Hong Kong racing was up 3.0% to HK$25.4 billion (approximately £2.6 billion), comprising 19.6% of total turnover on Hong Kong racing for the season. As a result, the HKJC’s income on wagering on Hong Kong racing for the season was up 1.5%.
Leveraging the success of commingling, the HKJC’s world-class technology and the liquidity of its pools, the HKJC has launched the World Pool based on the simulcast of top overseas races. As a result, Hong Kong has become the global hub for wagering on the world’s best races. With an additional three World Pool events last season, total turnover on simulcasting and the World Pool was up 12.5%, comprising 8.4% of total racing turnover.
As a result, total racing turnover for the 2022/23 racing season was up 0.5% to HK$141.1 billion (approximately £14.3 billion). Income on racing wagering for the season was up 1.8% to HK$6.4 billion (approximately £650 million).
World Cup and new HKJC wagering system boosts football betting turnover
Football betting saw a strong performance, with turnover up 9.1% to HK$156.9 billion (approximately £15.9 billion) in 2022/23. This was partly due to the World Cup, whose unusual timing fell into the middle of the financial year, but more to the HKJC’s new customer information and wagering system, which facilitated the launch of new In Play bet types to compete with the illegal market. However, while turnover was up, the HKJC’s income was flat at HK$9.8 billion (approximately £996 million) due to increased taxation in the form of Special Football Betting Duty of HK$12 billion (approximately £1.2 billion), which is payable over five years, with HK$0.6 billion (approximately £61 million) being paid in the 2022/23 financial year.
Meanwhile the Mark Six lottery, which returned to three draws per week, was up 29.2% to HK$7.5 billion (approximately £762 million) in 2022/23.
As a result, and despite the many challenges, the HKJC achieved a record turnover of HK$304.8 billion (approximately £31 billion), which in turn enabled it to contribute a record HK$35.9 billion (approximately £3.6 billion) to the community. This comprised a record HK$28.6 billion (approximately £2.9 billion) in betting duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$7.3 billion (approximately £742 million) in approved charity donations, the second highest in the HKJC’s history.
Reflecting on the HKJC’s achievement, Michael Lee, the Chairman of the HKJC, said: “I would like to express my sincere thanks to the racing community, to our members, to the HKSAR Government, to mainland authorities, to the HKJC’s management and employees and most especially to our customers. Through your support, Hong Kong racing is an example to the world of the strength and resilience of our city.”
“Through resilience and agility, the HKJC performed extremely well during the pandemic,” the Chief Executive Officer for the HKJC, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, said. “However, there is no question that the post-pandemic environment is proving equally challenging, with the economy likely to be highly volatile for some time to come. In these circumstances, the HKJC’s exceptional performance last year was only possible because of its strategy to develop world-class racing and to export it overseas via commingling as well as through the creation of the World Pool. Together with the strong performance of football betting, this enabled the HKJC to contribute a record HK$35.9 billion to the community.”
Betting Duty
This year the HKSAR government introduced Special Football Betting Duty, which, requires the HKJC to pay HK$12 billion (approximately £1.2 billion) over five years on top of the substantial betting duty it is already paying. Nonetheless, the HKJC has undertaken to maintain its regular approved charity donations at not less than HK$4.5 billion (approximately £457 million) a year over the five-year duration of the Special Football Betting Duty.
Given the government’s fiscal needs, the HKJC understands the rationale for Special Football Betting Duty. However, the HKJC remains very concerned about any permanent increase in taxation, especially in the rate of betting duty, which is already far higher than in other jurisdictions. The HKJC pays 50% on its gross margin on football, whereas Macau pays just 25%. Racing betting duty, at up to 75%, is almost double that of Japan, which pays 40%. Duty rates in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia are even lower.
In the digital age, the HKJC faces significant competition from illegal bookmakers who pay no tax, and from overseas sports betting bookmakers who operate under very low tax regimes. Illegal and overseas betting operators are already earning profits in excess of HK$15 billion (approximately £1.5 billion) a year from Hong Kong customers. If betting duty rates increase the HKJC would face a significant decrease in income and would be less price competitive. As a result, the HKJC would be unable to invest for its future. Above all, it could not sustain its high level of support for Hong Kong, which over the last ten years has seen its betting duty contributions rise from HK$17.2 billion (approximately £1.7 billion) to HK$27.1 billion (approximately £2.8 billion) and its charity donations more than triple, from HK$1.95 billion (approximately £198 million) to HK$7.3 billion (approximately £741 million).
Stronger Together for Hong Kong
As a result of the HKJC’s significant increase in donations over the last ten years its Charities Trust has become one of the world’s top ten charity donors.
To maximise its impact, the Charities Trust regularly reviews its strategy, and it did so again this year, taking account of societal needs. The new triennial (2022/25) strategy has five pillars: Positive Ageing & Elderly Care; Children & Youth Development; Healthy Community; Talent & Sector Development; and Sports & Culture. The Trust will also develop sustainability as a new strategic theme given the significant impact of this global challenge.
The Charities Trust supports a wide range of needs in collaboration with the government, NGOs and other grantee partners. Furthermore, the additional resources generated by the HKJC’s business results have enabled it to focus on needle-moving, high-impact initiatives. Through Trust-initiated Projects (TIPs) it pilots new service models and brings innovation to the service sector. Many TIPs are already having an impact. For example, CoolThink@JC, which promotes the digital creativity of upper primary school students, has been taken up by the Education Bureau. This year the Trust launched its latest TIP, JC Volunteer Together, which promotes volunteering in the community. It also approved nine new TIPs, including a new initiative to develop primary care community pharmacy services.
One of the Trust’s major strategic projects, initiated to mark the tenth anniversary of the HKSAR, was the conservation and revitalisation of the Central Police Station compound as Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts. This year Tai Kwun celebrated its fifth anniversary. Since opening, it has become a unique public space in the heart of Hong Kong and a symbol of global best practice in heritage conservation. To date over 13 million local and international visitors have enjoyed its historic buildings and year-round programme of exhibitions, festivals and performances.
Looking forward, the Charities Trust will convene the third Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum at West Kowloon Cultural District from September 11 to 12. Carrying the Philanthropy for Fairer Societies theme, the forum will bring together 70 distinguished speakers and 1,600 delegates from around the world and establish Hong Kong as a global thought leader in philanthropy.
Strategic Development on the Mainland
The HKJC has successfully established Conghua Racecourse in Guangzhou as a globally-recognised centre of excellence, comprising the mainland’s first internationally-recognised Equine Disease Free Zone and state-of-the-art facilities including stables, training tracks, an international standard veterinary clinic and rehabilitation centre and vocational training for equine industry development. Building on this success, the HKJC is contributing to national development through its strong support for the equine industry and horse sports in the mainland.
Under its Racing Vision 2030, the HKJC’s world-class racing will soon encompass not only its two racecourses in Hong Kong but Conghua Racecourse in Guangzhou. This vision is anchored in two national policies. Firstly, the continuous development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and secondly the National Equine Industry Development Plan (2020/2025).
In 2021, the HKJC signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement for the joint development of the Guangzhou-Hong Kong Racing Economic Cluster. In line with this the HKJC will host regular race meetings at Conghua starting from 2026. Work is in progress to expand stabling facilities and to construct an iconic grandstand.
The HKJC is keen to support equine sports in other parts of the mainland. For many years it has been working with the General Administration of Sport, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Chinese Equestrian Association (CEA) and the Chinese Horse Industry Association (CHIA). This year it signed agreements to take forward its cooperation with the CEA and the CHIA.
Following its extensive support for the equestrian events of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, the HKJC is also providing its world-class expertise and technical support for the equestrian events of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. Hong Kong, China will field its own equestrian team, all of whom have benefited from the HKJC-supported Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan. The HKJC will work with the Hangzhou government to carry forward the equestrian legacy of the games.
Results summary – by financial year (1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023)
| 2022/23
(HK$m) |
2021/22 (HK$m) | % change | |
| Racing turnover* | 140,363 | 140,396 | 0.0% |
| Football turnover | 156,876 | 143,798 | + 9.1% |
| Mark Six turnover | 7,560 | 5,850 | + 29.2% |
| Total | 304,799 | 290,044 | + 5.1% |
*87 race meetings in 2022/23 and 88 race meetings in 2021/22
HKJC’s contributions – by financial year (1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023)
| 2022/23
(HK$m) |
2021/22
(HK$m) |
% change | |
| Racing betting duty | 14,105 | 14,135 | – 0.2% |
| Football betting duty | 10,963* | 9,844 | + 11.4% |
| Lottery duty | 1,890 | 1,463 | + 29.2% |
| Profits tax | 539 | 696 | – 22.6% |
| Lotteries Fund | 1,134 | 877 | + 29.2% |
| Approved Trust donation | 7,264 | 6,594 | + 10.2% |
| Total | 35,895 | 33,609 | +6.8% |
*Including HK$600 million Special Football Betting Duty (April-June 2023)
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s 2022/23 annual report can be downloaded from the HKJC website at: https:// Corporate.HCJC .com/Corporate/English/History-and-Reports/Annual-Reports .aspx.
Latest News
JioBLAST Launches All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy: A New Era of Creator-Driven Esports Entertainment
Reading Time: 2 minutes
JioBLAST today announced the launch of JioBLAST All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy, an exciting new creator-led, competitive entertainment format featuring BGMI, that brings gaming icons and fans together on one stage. The high-octane event will take place on 29th–30th November 2025 at NESCO, Mumbai, with registrations open on the JioGames app.
JioBLAST All Stars marks JioBLAST’s debut in India’s rapidly growing gaming and esports entertainment landscape and will headline GamingCon Bharat 2025, one of the country’s premier gaming festivals. Designed for India’s massive gaming audience base, All Stars vs India is a unique format that allows fans to either team up with or take on their favourite creators, transforming audiences into participants in an immersive, interactive show experience.
The tournament is a first-of-its-kind creator-led esports entertainment format featuring two fan-driven competitions, including a Jio Solo Tournament, exclusive for Jio customers to play with their favourite stars and an open Team Tournament for squads across India to play against the All stars.
Speaking on the announcement, Charlie Cowdrey, CEO, JioBLAST, said: “We’re thrilled to launch JioBLAST All Stars vs India, a fan-first, creator-powered format designed to bring India’s next wave of gamers into the spotlight. This is just the beginning of how JioBLAST will redefine competitive entertainment in India – more events, bigger line-ups, and new formats that level up every season. We’re thankful to KRAFTON for enabling us to bring this experience to the BGMI community.”
On the partnership, Megha Raturi, CMO, Reliance Consumer Products Ltd, said: “Campa Energy is more than a beverage; it’s an attitude. By partnering with JioBLAST, we’re tapping into the spirit of India’s unstoppable youth, those rewriting the rules of competition and resilience through gaming. All Stars vs India is a celebration of that unbreakable drive.”
At its core, JioBLAST All Stars represents a new era of competitive entertainment, where creators, fans, and communities converge in a format that celebrates participation. With open online qualifiers for players, JioBLAST is enabling aspiring gamers to share the stage with some of India’s most followed and respected gaming content creators at GamingCon Bharat.
Star-Studded Creator Line-up
- Payal Gaming
- Shreeman Legend
- Soul Regaltos
- Snax Gaming
Fans can qualify through open tournaments hosted on JioGames, leading to the Creator vs Community showcase matches on the main stage. The live event will feature professional production, live shoutcasting, fan meet-and-greets, and exclusive creator-driven content, ensuring a premium experience both on-ground and online.
JioBLAST All Stars vs India Registration Details:
- Event: JioBLAST All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy
- Venue: GamingCon Bharat, Nesco, Mumbai
- Dates: 29–30 November 2025
- Game: Battlegrounds Mobile India
- Registrations to compete: Open until November 14th on the JioGames app
- Team Tournament: Open for all players across India
- Jio Solo Tournament: Exclusive for Jio users
- Total tournament Prize Pool : INR 10,00,000
Gaming enthusiasts can buy GaminCon Bharat 2025 tickets from District by Zomato. JioBLAST is a joint venture between Jio, BLAST, and RISE Worldwide Limited, combining Jio’s 500+ million-strong digital ecosystem with BLAST’s global expertise in esports entertainment and RISE’s leadership in sports and event management. Together, they aim to build India’s most engaging and scalable esports IP ecosystem – from world-class tournaments to creator-driven entertainment formats.
With India emerging as one of the world’s largest gaming markets and the Online Gaming Bill 2025 actively supporting industry growth, JioBLAST is set to accelerate the nation’s journey towards becoming a global esports powerhouse.
The post JioBLAST Launches All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy: A New Era of Creator-Driven Esports Entertainment appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Rapidly-expanding software provider enters its 13th regulated market following Italian regulator’s approval of Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt titles
Having previously outlined its intentions to enter more regulated markets throughout 2025, sought-after software provider Swintt has announced that it has now officially been greenlit by Italy’s Agencia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) to offer its slots in the country.
The new certification has initially been granted for Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt titles, and though further approval is planned for both SwinttPremium and SwinttSelect releases in the not-too-distant future, the provider has already put pen to paper with two of Italy’s leading operators.
Launched in 2024 following Swintt’s acquisition of Elysium Studios, Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt is a cutting-edge collection of releases that incorporates elements of social, mobile and casino gaming to deliver a more engaging experience that’s custom-made for the modern player.
Featuring inventive themes, innovative features and intuitive, mobile-first game mechanics, some of the biggest hits to come from the collaboration to date include the quirky, folk lore-inspired I Hate Fairytales and the swashbuckling skull and bones epic, Pirate Pledge Hold & Win.
Given both titles boast a cast of characters that includes everything from punk rock princesses to salty sea dogs and a huge selection of rewarding bonus rounds, the two games and many more from the Elysium Studios line-up are certain to prove a popular addition among Italian audiences.
With Swintt’s successful acquisition of ADM certification now paving the way for the provider to enter its 13th regulated market, the decision will significantly expand the company’s European footprint and enable it to form further partnerships with Italian operators in the months to come.
David Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, said: “At Swintt, our focus has always been on ensuring that our content gets put in front of players in as many regulated markets as possible – and acquiring ADM approval to offer our games in Italy is another significant step on this journey.
“As an established iGaming market with a huge emerging player base, we feel our Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt line-up can make a big impact in the region and we look forward to being able to roll out our other core line-ups very soon.”
The post Swintt games go live in Italy after receiving ADM certification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 6 minutes
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Relax Gaming is diving to the ocean floor for Treasure Tumble Dream Drop, an 8×8 cluster-pays adventure in the hit Tumble series starring fearless explorer Scarlett Spinz. Momentum is everything as position multipliers build, cluster wins cascade and a suite of blocker-busting power-ups keeps the action flowing, with a maximum win potential of 10,000x.
Get ready for a fresh, fruity adventure with Amusnet’s newest slot – 20 Bulky Fruits Buy Bonus! This colourful game brings classic fruit symbols to life across 20 paylines, offering plenty of ways to hit winning combinations and enjoy nonstop excitement. The Buy Bonus feature lets you jump straight into the action, unlocking bonus rounds whenever you want for instant thrills.
TaDa Gaming, has added to its renowned TriLuck series with a classic Chinese themed slot game, 3 Lucky Baozhu. Offering multiple ways to win, 1000x max and 97% RTP, this gorgeously colourful game sparkles and crackles with fortune and good luck. The five reels, three rows, 50 fixed paylines grid holds traditional symbols including Caishen god of wealth, lucky red envelopes, lanterns and musical instruments.
Spinomenal has released Demi Gods VII Ultra Mode as part of its hugely successful Demi Gods Series. This is a 5×4 reel 50 lines video slot that takes players on an epic journey through the realm of the immortals, where financial fate rests with the gods. A powerful, surging soundtrack amplifies the gameplay and makes for a thunderous reels experience.
Endorphina has released its newest Halloween title, 3 Witch Pots. The slot features 5 reels, 4 rows, and 40 fixed paylines. This Halloween addition to the Endorphina slots portfolio takes players on a mystical journey to help a skillful witch’s lair.
Witness the downfall of John, a man of order, a devoted father, a loyal husband and a pillar of routine. Nolimit City’s latest release, Disorder, unearths the twisted origin story of Mental and Mental II. This highly anticipated slot falls under the extreme themed category of Nolimit City slots such as Serial and Disturbed.
BGaming invites players to saddle up and head to the Wild West in the brand-new Wild Wick online slot. The game is the latest to be developed in collaboration with Strmlytics, a leader in live-streaming data analytics. Wild Wick introduces players to a charismatic bounty hunter inspired by classic Western Heroes from Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name and Terence Hill’s Lucky Luke to the animated cowboys of the Soviet cartoon Treasure Island.
Stakelogic is closing out spooky season in style with Soul Slayer, a gripping slot experience where every spin becomes a battle for survival. Set in a world consumed by demonic forces, Soul Slayer challenges players to embrace their inner warrior and strike back with precision, fury, and Wild-filled rewards.
Red Rake Gaming presents Get the Coins!, a slot that combines gold coins with Major, Minor, and Grand prizes in a dynamic, fast-paced experience. This release offers rapid gameplay and an exclusive Mini-Game that delivers unique reward opportunities in every session. With its 3×3 reel format, each spin can generate coins and trigger the “Get the Coins!” Mini-Game with collectible coins whenever at least one coin appears on each reel.
Spinmatic announced the launch of Elemental Fusion, a revolutionary title that fuses the mechanics of Video Slots with the engaging features of Plinko games. This innovative product release highlights Spinmatic’s commitment to developing unique and compelling gaming experiences for the igaming market.
Amusnet has released 20 Golden Coins: Reel Fishing, a next-generation video slot that combines the charm of the game classics with the thrill of modernity. This 5-reel, 20-payline release brings the joy of fishing to life with vibrant visuals, engaging features and a soundtrack that fully immerses players in a sunny day by the water.
Evoplay has launched Sky Sentinels, a new slot that lets players decide their fate under the Egyptian sky. Every spin offers a choice between the Sun and the Moon. The radiant Sun guides wins from right to left, while the mysterious Moon moves them from left to right, each creating a unique way to play and win.
Million Games has announced the launch of Gatsby Gold, a 5×3, 243-ways video slot that combines the elegance of 1920s art deco with dynamic modern gameplay. The game offers 243 ways to win, a 96.3% RTP, and a maximum payout of 8,100x the bet, making it as rewarding as it is stylish.
Evoplay has launched Young Deer Song, a festive high-volatility slot that takes players deep into a mystical forest where nature’s creatures lead the way to great rewards. As the moon rises over the treetops, the reels come alive in this Christmas themed title with the fox, owl, raccoon, and wolf, each carrying their own charm and fortune.
Take to the skies and soar like an eagle, then swoop in and grab big wins by spinning the reels of Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme from Booming Games. This action-packed, feature-filled slot is a wild adventure with a chance to win up to 10,000x. Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme is a 5×3, 25-fixed payline slot.
Squid Gold X2 by 18Peaches invites players to dive deep into a world of mystery, magic and forgotten riches. Set within a sacred castle filled with ancient relics and hidden chambers, every spin feels like a step deeper into the unknown. The legendary golden squid is said to guard untold fortunes, and only the bravest adventurers will uncover its secrets.
With Swintt having already opened the way to a world of wonder in the original Lucky Fortune Door, this month the award-winning software provider is back in action again with Lucky Fortune Door Wild – an exciting reboot that gives players even more ways to win! Like its SwinttPremium predecessor, Lucky Fortune Door Wild is a five-reel slot that can be played with either five or ten paylines.
The post Week 45/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Latest News3 months ago
ReferOn Shortlisted for Acquisition & Retention Partner of the Year at SBC Lisbon 2025
-
Latest News2 months ago
Duels for Friends in Trophy Hunter. Invite your friends and create a shared space for fun and competition.
-
Latest News3 months ago
BC.GAME Launches “Nezha” Slot with Up to 46,656 Ways to Win and 10,000x Max Payout
-
Latest News1 month ago
Announcement: 25th September 2025
-
Latest News3 months ago
NODWIN Gaming Acquires Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Stake in Evo; Becomes Majority Holder
-
Latest News2 months ago
Flamez – A Fiery New Online Casino Contender from Ganadu
-
Latest News2 months ago
AI-Powered Gamification Arrives on Vegangster Platform via Smartico
-
Latest News3 months ago
Cyprus National Betting Authority Warns Public About Illegal Online Gambling and Misinformation
You must be logged in to post a comment Login