Inside Asian Gaming

IAG NOV 2021年11月亞博匯 73 1-10 to the community in 2020/21 including HK$24.9 billion (US$3.2 billion) to the Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$4.5 billion (US$578.6 million) in approved charity donations. It is this massive contribution that sees HKJC as the single largest taxpayer in Hong Kong, continuing the remarkable legacy Engelbrecht-Bresges has built. Arriving in 1998 as racing director before taking on the top job nine years later, the former German youth football team player has transformed The HKJC from a second-rate, highly introverted organization to one that is the envy of the racing world. Under his watch, The HKJC has invested millions into transforming almost every aspect of the business – from redevelopment of Sha Tin Racecourse under the Racecourse Master Plan to the quality of horses running and extensive customer segmentation work to provide a complete race day experience. The vastly improved product that is Hong Kong racing has subsequently enjoyed an explosion in popularity which has transferred directly to the betting ring. And it doesn't look like momentum will slow any time soon. Having already booked a record season through September 2021, The HKJC also smashed the previous record for opening day turnover with total betting reaching HK$1.44 billion (US$185 million) for the first meet of the 2021/2022 season. In a nod to his achievements in Hong Kong, Engelbrecht-Bresges was appointed Chairman of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities in October, becoming just the second chairman in the IFHA’s history following the retirement of long-serving Louis Romanet. The IFHA aims to ensure member nations are well regulated and follow best practices in areas such as breeding, racing, wagering and animal welfare. 無論 是由於專業管理,還是出於香港政府不願意失去其最佳收入 來源的決心,香港賽馬會 (HKJC) 做到了新冠疫情期間鮮有博彩 機構能夠達成之事——入賬更為豐厚。 在應家柏的領導之下——今年是其擔任行政總裁的第13 年——香港賽馬會沒有錯失任何良機,不僅完成了兩個完整的馬 季、在2019/2020賽季僅經歷輕微的下滑、同時在2020/2021馬 季實現了營業額2,797億港元(360億美元)的歷史新紀錄,按 年增長27.9%。 該創紀錄的結果包括馬季投注額按年增長12.3%至1,361億港 元(175億美元),足球博彩投注額按年增長51.4%至1,402億港 元(180億美元),但六合彩攪珠由於防疫需求曾於2021年2月 至9月中期間暫停舉行,因而投注額年內下跌不少。 馬會曾於今年九月表示,在2020/21年度按比例回饋社會 294億港元(38億美元),其中包括透過博彩稅、利得稅及獎券 基金撥款249億港元(32億美元),以及馬會慈善信託基金審批 的45億港元(5.786億美元)慈善捐款。 這一巨大的貢獻令馬會繼續香港最大的單一納稅人,延續了 應家柏所締造的非凡成就。 這位前德國青年足球隊隊員於1998年加入馬會任職賽馬事 務司,於九年後晉升為行政總裁,令馬會從一家二流、只專注本 地發展的組織,成為現今令行業豔羨的賽馬會。在應家柏的領導 下,香港賽馬會投資了數百萬美元來優化業務,涵蓋近乎每個領 域,包括在總體規劃下推動沙田馬場優化工程、提高參賽馬匹的 質素、落實廣泛的客戶細化工作以提供更完善的賽馬日體驗等 等。大幅優化業務產品後的馬會深受投注者歡迎。 這一勢頭似乎短期內未見放緩趨勢。2021年9月,香港賽馬 會在2021/2022年度馬季再度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),打破之前開鑼日創下的 紀錄。 為了表彰其在香港的成就,應家柏於十月被任命為國際賽馬 聯盟組織(IFHA)主席,成為長期擔任此職的Louis Romanet退 休之後,IFHA歷史上的第二位主席。 IFHA旨在確保成員國在育種、賽馬、投注和動物福利等領域 受到良好監管並遵循最佳實踐。

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