The Hong Kong Jockey Club booked a 3.2% increase in horse racing wagering turnover for the 2025/2026 season, hitting HK$143.3 billion (US$18.3 billion) as the season drew to a close at the Happy Valley racecourse on Wednesday.
The group noted that the turnover growth was “driven primarily by improved field sizes and the continued success of the Club’s globalization strategy through commingling, simulcasting and the World Pool.”
The HKJC now boasts 26 countries and more than 60 partners in commingling – where one totalizator organization combines its wagering pool with another for a common dividend. During the season, Hong Kong races saw an 8.3% increase in commingling turnover, reaching HK$34.4 billion (US$4.39 billion).
A high point was reached on Chinese New Year Raceday in February, with commingling turnover setting a new record of HK$532.6 million (US$67.9 million) for a single race meeting, also the second consecutive year the figure topped HK$500 million (US$63.8 million).
The group has also benefited from the Hong Kong government’s approval in June of last year to progressively add additional simulcasts “as a means to combat illegal gambling on overseas racing.” This led to a total of 492 simulcast races during the season, with 99 overseas races simulcast, up from 71 in the previous year, pushing simulcast turnover up by 23.5% to HK$16.2 billion (US$2.07 billion).
The HKJC has not yet divulged its 2025/2026 annual report, which includes the results from horse racing wagering, football betting and the Mark Six lottery.
Celebrating the close of the race season, the Happy Valley racecourse saw a series of special showdowns, with HKCJ CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges commenting at the event, “This has been an outstanding season and we really could not have wished for anything more in terms of equine excellence, especially in the Year of the Horse.
“Hong Kong racing is truly world class and I am immensely proud of the performances of our champion horses, jockeys and trainers.”
The HKJC saw a 5% year-on-year increase in its total wagering and lottery turnover for the 2025/2026 financial year, reaching HK$320.3 billion (US$41.1 billion), with football betting hitting a record high of HK$172.8 billion (US$22.2 billion), up by 7.83%, and Mark Six wagers also hitting a record HK$182.8 billion (US$22.2 billion).
The group has laid all the groundwork for a possible expansion of its sports betting options beyond football into basketball, with legislation passed, but the process is currently on hold pending further review.
The HKJC holds the government-granted monopoly on wagering in the Special Administrative Region (SAR).
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