Asia
Hong Kong’s record prize money increase includes world’s richest Group 1 turf sprint
Hong Kong Sprint raised to £2.2m as HKJC boosts prize pot for 2020/21 to over £143m
Hong Kong racing will offer record prize money of HK$1.4 billion (£143.5m) for the 2020/21 season, with the Group 1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint and BMW Hong Kong Derby featuring prominently among the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s upward adjustments.
The LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (6f) will regain its position as the world’s most richly-endowed Group 1 turf sprint with a value this year of HK$22 million (£2.2m), an increase of HK$2 million (£205,000). Five other Group 1 races – Centenary Sprint Cup (6f), Stewards’ Cup (1m), Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (7f), Hong Kong Gold Cup (1m2f) and Champions & Chater Cup (1m4f) – will receive HK$2 million (£205,000) increases, taking their value to HK$12 million (£1.2m).
The historic BMW Hong Kong Derby is Hong Kong’s most important domestic contest and will be worth HK$24 million (£2.4m), a HK$4 million (£400,000) increase on the 2020 renewal. The 1m2f contest is a key race each year, being a vital springboard for the next crop of Hong Kong’s stars, and regains its position as the second-richest Derby in the world, behind only Japan’s equivalent and ahead of the Kentucky Derby, the UAE Derby and the original Derby at Epsom.
The Hong Kong Derby is the final leg in the three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series and the Club has also taken the decision to up prize money for first two legs: the Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Classic Cup will both be worth HK$12 million (£1.2m) in 2021, an increase of HK$2 million (£200,000) to each race.
| Race | 2019/20 (HK$) | 2020/21 (HK$) | Increase (HK$) | % Increase |
| Hong Kong Sprint | 20,000,000 | 22,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 10 |
| Centenary Sprint Cup | 10,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 20 |
| Stewards’ Cup | 10,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 20 |
| Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup | 10,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 20 |
| Hong Kong Gold Cup | 10,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 20 |
| Champions & Chater Cup | 10,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 20 |
| Hong Kong Derby | 20,000,000 | 24,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 20 |
| Hong Kong Classic Mile | 10,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 20 |
| Hong Kong Classic Cup | 10,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 20 |
All Group 2 and Group 3 races will also rise in value. Group 2 purses will increase by 5.9% from HK$4.25 million (£435,000) to HK$4.5 million (£460,000), while the prize funds for Group 3 races will rise by 7.7% from HK$3.25 million (£333,000) to HK$3.5 million (£359,000).
Total prize money for the 2020/21 season’s 88 meetings at Sha Tin and Happy Valley is up by approximately 4.9% on the 2019/20 season. This year’s lucrative purse increases span all handicap races from Class 1 down to Class 5.
| Class | 2019/20 (HK$) | 2020/21 (HK$) | Increase (HK$) | % Increase |
| Group 2 | 4,250,000 | 4,500,000 | 250,000 | 5.9% |
| Group 3 | 3,250,000 | 3,500,000 | 250,000 | 7.7% |
| 1 | 2,800,000 | 3,000,000 | 200,000 | 7.1% |
| 2 | 2,100,000 | 2,200,000 | 100,000 | 4.8% |
| 3 | 1,450,000 | 1,500,000 | 50,000 | 3.4% |
| 4 | 967,000 | 1,000,000 | 33,000 | 3.4% |
| 5 | 725,000 | 750,000 | 25,000 | 3.4% |
Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association President Mr. Chew Fook Aun said: “At a time when prize money levels are being cut worldwide, the prize money increases announced today by the Hong Kong Jockey Club are very welcome news, and a testament to the strength, resilience and buoyancy of Hong Kong racing, even in these very difficult times”.
Mr. Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, at the Hong Kong Jockey Club said: “Hong Kong racing is among the best in the world and part of what makes it such a competitive sports environment is the excellent prize money available from Class 5 right up to Group 1. Despite the issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty in world economies, we will continue our successful strategy of recent years to increase purse levels as necessary in order to reward and encourage our owners and to ensure Hong Kong’s elite races are attractive to overseas competitors. This approach has been a core element in Hong Kong being able to maintain its position as a world leader in providing quality horseracing and has enabled us to achieve between 20 and 26 horses in the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for each of the past seven years.
“For next season, the Club has increased prize money to a record overall sum, including a significant injection across all Class 1 to Class 5 handicap races and Group 2 and Group 3 contests. We believe this will help to enhance competition and assist our owners in their attempts to purchase and import the best possible horses in a difficult economic climate.”
Mr. Harding noted the importance of ensuring Hong Kong’s elite races, including the BMW Hong Kong Derby, continue to offer purse money which is among the best in the world.
“Hong Kong is already home to the world’s richest turf races at 2000 metres (1m2f), a mile and 1400 metres (7f), and, while our Group 1 prize money is strong, we have nonetheless identified a specific need to increase the prize funds for six of our Group 1 races, notably the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (6f), which regains its status as the world’s richest Group 1 turf sprint,” he said.
“We have also increased purses for each of our three Four-Year-Old Classic Series races, notably the BMW Hong Kong Derby, which regains its position as the second richest Derby in the world. The investment from our owners in high quality young stock for our Four-Year-Old Classic Series each year brings a vital replenishment of our elite cohort of runners, which in turn maintains the very high standard of racing here in Hong Kong.”
IJC Trainer Bonus
The Hong Kong Jockey Club has also introduced a new bonus for the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship held at Happy Valley in December.
To encourage a higher quality of horses in the four IJC races, the new bonus scheme will offer prizes of HK$200,000 (£20,500) to the most successful trainer in the contest’s four races, HK$100,000 (£10,250) to the runner-up and HK$50,000 (£5,125) to the third-placed trainer, with points awarded in a similar fashion to the jockeys’ competition.
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Asia
Kazakhstan Orders Telecom Providers to Block Illegal Online Casino Payments via Mobile Balances
Kazakhstan authorities have moved to tighten controls on illegal online gambling payments after uncovering schemes that use mobile phone balances to fund unlicensed casino activity.
The Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) issued instructions to telecom providers to strengthen monitoring and introduce systems to detect and block suspicious transactions.
According to the FMA, mobile operators including Tele2, Altel, Beeline, Kcell and Activ were called to a working meeting where regulators demonstrated how illicit payment flows to online casinos are being processed.
To verify the issue, the FMA carried out test purchases across 10 illegal online casino websites using services from all major mobile operators. The tests confirmed that payments via mobile balances were possible.
The agency stated that the goal is to cut off financial access to illegal operators and reduce public exposure to unregulated platforms. Further enforcement actions are expected as monitoring continues.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is preparing to significantly tighten rules on the promotion of illegal gambling. A group of senators is advancing an initiative to introduce criminal penalties for influencers who advertise online casinos and organise “giveaways.”
In related developments, a Kazakhstani influencer has recently been arrested in Vietnam on suspicion of running an illegal gambling operation.
Furthermore, the country is also restricting citizens’ access to legal gambling options, indicating a broader anti-gambling stance towards locals while still pursuing gambling tourism.
Lawmakers introduced rules restricting access to casinos, slot machine halls and betting venues in several regions to foreign nationals only. The changes will take effect on 17 May.
In March, President Tokayev signed a law establishing four new gambling zones for foreigners in the country.
The post Kazakhstan Orders Telecom Providers to Block Illegal Online Casino Payments via Mobile Balances appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
IGT has announced that it will present a dynamic portfolio of market-attuned gaming and financial technology (FinTech) solutions at G2E Asia 2026, May 12-14 at The Venetian Macao. Under the theme “TOGETHER – Built to Win,” IGT will showcase its momentum in multi-level progressive (MLP) linked content and its unique position to drive operator value through the combination of Everi,s FinTech product and the widely adopted IGT ADVANTAGE casino management system (CMS).
“As the region’s largest gaming technology showcase, G2E Asia 2026 is an opportunity for IGT to demonstrate how combining IGT systems product and Everi’s FinTech product can introduce incremental value to our customers in Asia and enhance the player journey. We will also present a localized portfolio of proven IGT games such as Rising Rockets, Money Gong and Cash Cove that reflect our focus on delivering high-performing content and helping our customers in the region diversify their gaming floors,” said Hector Fernandez, CEO of IGT.
Highlights within IGT’s G2E Asia showcase in stand #A801 will include:
Market-attuned linked MLP games: G2E Asia will be a showcase for IGT’s global MLP sensations Money Gong Link and new Rising Rockets base-game themes, Prince and Princess. Both titles will be demonstrated on the PeakCurve49 cabinet, along with the brand extension Cash Cove Lucky Catch Trio and the Asia-targeted three-pot game, San Xing Gao Zhao Link. G2E Asia will also be the global debut for the Firework Link game on the PeakDual27 cabinet. This explosively fun linked MLP includes two base game themes with distinctive math models, inventive mechanics and multiple, scalable bonuses.
Versatile cash-handling and promotional technologies: Everi cash-handling technologies and jackpot processing tools that are designed to seamlessly integrate with multiple CMSs will be a centerpiece of IGT’s G2E Asia showcase. The award-winning Everi Premium Cash Redemption Terminal (CRT) and the Everi Mini CRT bring friction-free transactions to the gaming floor and introduce convenient tap functionality. IGT will also exhibit Everi QuickDraw, a groundbreaking cloud-based promotional drawing tool, and Everi Jackpot Xpress, a module for tracking and efficiently paying out jackpot winnings that is customizable to meet individual property processes and procedures.
Next-generation systems architecture with IGT ADVANTAGE X: the Company will demonstrate how the IGT ADVANTAGE X CMS can drive operator value and player convenience throughout Asia. IGT’s Systems team will highlight IGT ADVANTAGE X’s new bus-based system architecture that helps improve network speed, stability, connectivity and uptime. This CMS enhancement allows data to quickly transfer to or from the gaming floor, enabling seamless system-wide upgrades, content downloads, service window content and more.
The post IGT Presents Powerful Combination of Gaming and FinTech Solutions at G2E Asia 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
NOVOMATIC is going to showcase a comprehensive portfolio of next-generation gaming solutions at G2E Asia 2026, highlighting its strong commitment to the Asian market and reinforcing its role as a trusted technology partner across the region. At booth A518B, the company will showcase a powerful mix of linked progressive innovations, advanced ETG solutions, new game content and region-specific offerings – supported by the presence of its extensive network of Asian distribution partners.
In line with its commitment to product excellence, NOVOMATIC will also present a selection of its latest award-winning innovations, recently recognised at the prestigious European Casino Awards. Taking center stage is the DIAMOND X QUATTRO 1.55J, awarded Best Slot Machine. This flagship cabinet combines a striking 55-inch J-curved display with a refined glass touch deck and a powerful high-performance sound system, delivering an immersive and premium player experience.
A key highlight of this year’s exhibition is the first-ever presentation of VISION LINK in Asia. NOVOMATIC’s latest multi-feature linked progressive concept combines five-pot mechanics, modern gameplay design and the popular LOCK&SPIN feature to deliver a highly engaging player experience. Its compatibility with the proven XTENSION LINK series enables scalable configurations and strong performance across premium gaming floors.
Further strengthening the progressive portfolio, XTENSION LINK Volume 5 will be introduced as the newest addition to one of the industry’s most successful linked progressive families. Featuring 12 games inspired by classic fruit themes and iconic NOVOMATIC titles, it blends nostalgic appeal with modern presentation and proven features such as Golden Spins.
Also on display, Impera PROLINK 2 delivers a high-impact jackpot experience, combining well-known classics with new game content and advanced mechanics such as Chain Reaction, Super Collect and Extended Reels within a dynamic three-pot setup.
A major focus will also be placed on the award-winning Novo Unity Pro ETG platform, which will be showcased with its latest feature upgrades, further expanding its flexibility, performance and player engagement capabilities. In addition, NOVOMATIC will present Novo Unity Pro as a stand-alone solution, offering operators even greater versatility in deploying high-quality ETG experiences tailored to individual floor requirements.
Complementing the core portfolio, visitors can explore new live-game solutions as well as the latest game highlights from APEX, further enriching the overall product mix. The showcase will also include dedicated solutions for the Philippine E-Gaming segment, underlining NOVOMATIC’s targeted approach to regional market requirements.
“G2E Asia is a key platform for us to demonstrate the strength and depth of our portfolio in one of the most dynamic gaming regions worldwide. With the Asian debut of VISION LINK, major enhancements to Novo Unity Pro and a broad range of tailored solutions, we are delivering exactly what our partners are looking for: innovation, flexibility and strong performance,” said Kenan Bajram, Deputy Director of Global Sales at NOVOMATIC AG.
The post NOVOMATIC to Debut New Linked Progressive Innovations and Expanded Portfolio at G2E Asia 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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