"Hong Kong gamble on more race days | AboutHK.Com - more information about HK"

Hong Kong horse racing authorities said they wanted additional meetings on the season in a bid to lure punters away from the glittering casinos in neighboring Macau. In a proposal from the government, the Jockey Club said it wanted to ensure the season to 83 of 78 meetings. The change would mean that the season, which currently lasts from September to June, until July. The proposal is aimed to keep betting more money in Hong Kong and is expected to increase by more than 500 million Hong Kong dollars (64 million U.S.) in tax revenue for the government each year, said the club. "It is increasingly difficult for us to compete with Macau," a spokeswoman for the association told AFP. "Horse racing can never be compared with Macau's attractive casinos or even slot machines, which are in operation 24 hours a day and seven days a week. "Once these high-rollers have gone to Macau, they will gamble there the whole summer and their money will never return," she said, adding that Macau's junket operators often lured gamblers with offers of loans. A survey commissioned by the association showed that Hong Kong punters lost 20-25 billion U.S. dollars at casinos in Macau last year, compared to 11 billion U.S. Dollar on horse races in Hong Kong. The association said extending the season would also contribute to the activities of the illegal and offshore operators, the Hong Kong Weather in Summer Racing niche. Under the proposal, the Jockey Club would also like to add another 20 items while the overseas races. The Club spokeswoman said it was the first time in 10 years the club had allowed for an increase in race days. She described in Hong Kong gaming rules - under which the Jockey Club is the only legal betting forum on the territory of seven million people - so restrictive and outdated in comparison to the rest of the world. A spokesman for the government Home Affairs Bureau said its betting and lotteries Commission established a task force to investigate the club templates. The Commission would conduct a public consultation this month and seek the views of legislators on the proposed changes, he said. The Jockey Club is Hong Kong's largest taxpayer. It is also the city's largest private charity donor, with an annual contribution totaling about 1 billion Hong Kong dollars in recent years. Comments Please login to post comments or replies.