Inside Asian Gaming

IAG OCT 2021年10月 亞博匯 18 HKJC BREAKS OPENING DAY TURNOVER RECORD … AGAIN 香港賽馬會再次 打破開鑼日投注記錄 THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB smashed all previous records on the first day of its new racing season, recording the highest opening day turnover in its history with total betting reaching HK$1.44 billion (US$185 million) – 4.3% higher than the previous record set 12 months ago. A year after just 362 people attended at Sha Tin due to COVID-19 restrictions, the crowds were back – this time around with 16,356 at Sha Tin and 1,207 at Happy Valley for an overall attendance of 17,563. Turnover of HK$1.44 billion exceeded the HK$1.38 billion (US$178 million) in turnover recorded 2019/2020 which had itself been 6.8% higher than the previous record set in the 2017/2018 season. “I personally think it was the best start we could have hoped for,” said The HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “It was a wonderful atmosphere to have our customers back on track. They saw tremendous performances from the sporting side. “On the business side, turnover is a record – the highest turnover for the start of the season – beating HK$1.376 billion last year. I personally think it is a tremendous start to the season. “I am very optimistic going forward. We could not have hoped for a better start from the sporting point of view and the business point of view. “Going forward, I look forward to Hong Kong racing going from strength to strength.” The impressive start to the season came just days after The HKJC reported record turnover for the 2020/21 season, rising 27.9% year-on-year to HK$279.70 billion (US$36.0 billion) including a 12.5% rise in racing turnover to HK$136.1 billion (US$17.5 billion). 香港賽馬會 在新賽季首日打破了以往所有紀錄，創下開鑼日投注 額的歷史新高。總投注額達到14.4 億港元（1.85 億美元），較之 前創下的記錄高出4.3%。 由於新冠疫情，去年馬季開鑼日僅有364人入場觀賽。今年 則共錄得16,356名及1207名觀眾進入沙田及跑馬地馬場觀賽。 14.4億港元的投注額超過2019/2020年度的13.8億港元 （1.78億美元），而後者本身就比2017/2018賽季創下的紀錄高 6.8%。 馬會行政總裁應家柏表示：「我認為今日的成績實在是在我 們預料之外。我們的顧客能重返馬場欣賞賽事，為馬季開鑼日帶 來熾烈的氣氛，今日大家都看到一幕幕精彩的體育表演。」 「業績方面，投注額為歷來馬季開鑼日的新高 (上季開鑼日 的投注額為13.76億港元)。個人認為，這是馬季一個令人雀躍的 開始。」 「我對未來感到樂觀，個人認為，不論從體育運動及業績兩 方面去看，能有如此一個好開始實在是最好不過。」 「向前展望，我期待香港賽馬將會做得更好。」應家柏續 說。 就在該賽季開賽前，香港賽馬會公佈2020/21 賽季收入按年 增長27.9%至2797億港元（360 億美元），其中賽馬投注額按年 增長12.5%至1361億港元（175 億美元）。