Asia
Record turnover at Happy Valley for Hong Kong racing’s season finale

Hong Kong’s “season like no other” ended at Happy Valley on Wednesday 15th July with turnover of HK$1.6 billion (£160 million), a record for a fixture at the iconic city-side venue.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club navigated the uncertainty of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic decisively, implementing measures that protected public and employee health, and enabled the sport to continue; and also managed issues related to demonstrations in the city, which caused significant traffic disruptions to customers and staff, and which had a significant impact on attendance.
Mr. Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, commented: “While we recognise that the Coronavirus situation is an ongoing battle, and we must remain vigilant, I can say that it has been heartening to see the Hong Kong community pull together and play a crucial part in combatting its effects; the Hong Kong Jockey Club has been quick to reflect and enact those safeguarding measures and policies while continuing to race.
“We are pleased to have been able to complete a full season but of course our prime focus throughout, and a real challenge, was to act responsibly to protect the public health and safety of our staff, customers and the wider community, at every turn, while at the same time balancing that with the desire for our sport to continue.”
Turnover and contributions
Hong Kong’s total racing turnover in the 2019/20 season was HK$121.6 billion (£12.2 billion) which was down only 2.6 percent on the previous season and was still the third-highest ever despite COVID-19 placing severe pressure on domestic wagering in Hong Kong.
The turnover on Hong Kong racing by Hong Kong customers understandably declined by 8.3 percent due to the effects of the Club’s 100 OCCBs (off-course betting branches) being closed or operating on reduced opening from early February, and fans unable to attend the racecourse for almost half the season.
Turnover dipped by almost 26 percent in early February but wagering rallied through the later part of the season and climaxed with Happy Valley’s record turnover at the finale fixture. The impacts on OCBBs necessitated a change and resulted in the Club helping customers migrate online.
There were further positives as total commingling turnover increased to a record HK$23.58 billion (£2.36 billion), up 25.3 percent on last season; and Hong Kong racing fans continued to show a growing interest in the sport overseas, as evidenced in the 12.9 percent increase in the Club’s simulcast turnover.
Mr. Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “Our overall season’s racing turnover of more than HK$121 billion is pleasing in light of the significant challenges as it only reduced by 2.6 percent. Commingling continues to be a huge growth area for the Club.”
Mr. Engelbrecht-Bresges noted the “strategic value of commingling,” in which people from around the world participate and bet on Hong Kong racing, and observed that the figures show the global appeal and growing interest in Hong Kong racing around the world.
“We are pleased with how popular our simulcasts are with Hong Kong customers and we are keen to do more,” he said.
“Furthermore, we are pleased with how much interest our customers have in our simulcast programmes from the leading race meetings around the world. We saw this even more in the second World Pool at Royal Ascot, which proved a huge success – with individual race turnover up by more than 49 percent on 2019 – and we look forward to expanding the World Pool concept next season, with Hong Kong as a vital hub for global wagering.”
The Hong Kong Jockey Club runs racing with a core purpose being the betterment of society as a whole; the Club is the city’s largest tax payer and this racing season alone has paid HK$12.113 billion (£1.21 billion) to the Hong Kong government, while a significant contribution, including special emergency COVID-19 funding support, has been paid in charitable contributions to a wide range of causes.
Mr. Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “There was a compelling public interest element to our desire to continue racing through COVID-19, from Chinese New Year to the end of the season, during which time our tax contribution from racing was more than HK$6.2 billion (£620 million). This has enabled us to not only keep donations at last year’s level but also increase it due to our contributions via the COVID-19 Emergency Fund.
“We are incredibly proud that the Club could continue to make such a contribution and, the benefits of completing a full season will be felt by millions of people across Hong Kong over the coming months.”
The CEO praised the resilience of the Hong Kong community and thanked racing fans, owners, Club members, horsemen, the media, and Club staff in particular, for their patience, dedication and efforts in ensuring the 2019/20 racing season was able to continue in safety.
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Asia
Scientific Games India Recognized as One of Jombay’s 2025 WOW Workplaces

Scientific Games has been named one of Jombay’s WOW Workplaces of 2025 in the Information Technology, Information Technology Enabled Services and Global Capability Center category at its Bangalore, India, location. This prestigious accolade reaffirms the company’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration and inclusivity. The award highlights the global lottery leader’s dedication to providing an exceptional environment where employees thrive personally and professionally.
The WOW Workplace Awards are an annual listing of organizations with the most WOW reviews. The award substantiates how “great,” “best” or “exceptional” a company is through testimonials and feedback across the web (including employee review websites) using Jombay’s AI engine.
Pat McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games, said, “Being recognized as one of Jombay’s WOW Workplaces is an incredible honor and a true reflection of the remarkable culture our team in India has built. Our India team’s relentless dedication to innovation and excellence is inspiring and helps fuel our success with employees and customers worldwide.”
Scientific Games’ Bangalore operations, established in 2015, recently expanded to a new, state-of-the-art facility, underscoring the company’s growth and investment in its workforce. The center is a hub for research and development, software innovation, quality assurance and technology operations, contributing significantly to the company’s global mission.
Mahesh Nanjundappa, Managing Director of Scientific Games India, added, “This recognition is a testament to our employees’ hard work, creativity and commitment to making Scientific Games a fantastic workplace. At the heart of our success is the inspiring environment we’ve cultivated where every team member feels valued and empowered to achieve their best.”
Scientific Games operates across five continents, delivering a comprehensive range of retail and digital lottery solutions and lottery sports betting products and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries.
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Asia
Tencent Cloud Recognised as a Leader in Omdia Market Radar for Games in Asia & Oceania, Solidifying its Position as a Global Gaming Industry Innovator

Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global leading technology company Tencent, has been named as a leader among cloud platforms for games in the latest report by Omdia, a premier technology research and advisory firm. The report highlights Tencent Cloud’s exceptional capabilities in supporting the gaming industry, showcasing its cutting-edge infrastructure and innovative, gaming-specific solutions, which solidify its position as an innovator in the global gaming sector.
According to the “Omdia Market Radar: Cloud Platforms for Games, Asia & Oceania – 2025,” Tencent Cloud is the top cloud platform for game developers in China – one of the largest and fastest-growing markets globally. It is also expanding its influence internationally, establishing a significant presence in Asia and Oceania, where it is positioned as one of the leading cloud service providers and is the only Asian vendor in the leader quadrant. As China’s largest gaming company, Tencent’s scale is reflected in its deep expertise and sustained focus in the gaming sector, with a sustained focus on gaming, which drives the development of its cloud platform. This emphasis is evident in Tencent Cloud’s robust suite of tools for game developers, including game servers, multiplayer services, and LiveOps. The platform’s offerings reflect the advanced adoption of live service business models in the Chinese market, distinguishing Tencent Cloud as a leader in the industry.
Poshu Yeung, Senior Vice President of Tencent Cloud International, said: “It is an honor for us at Tencent Cloud to be recognized as a leader in the Omdia Market Radar. This acknowledgment is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence in supporting the gaming industry. As the demand for cloud-based gaming solutions continues to grow, Tencent Cloud becomes even more well positioned to drive innovation and deliver greater value to developers and players all over the world.”
The post Tencent Cloud Recognised as a Leader in Omdia Market Radar for Games in Asia & Oceania, Solidifying its Position as a Global Gaming Industry Innovator appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
GR8 Tech Expands Reach Across Asia and Latam Through Betting Software Partnership

GR8 Tech has partnered with B2B gambling software provider Betting Software (BSW) to integrate its highly sought-after Sportsbook iFrame Solution into BSW’s offerings. The iFrame stands out for its easy integration and powerful margin management features, which have made it one of the most popular solutions of 2024. By adding the iFrame to BSW’s sportsbook aggregation, GR8 Tech’s innovative technology will reach a broader network of operators.
Bulat Fakhrutdinov, Head of Partnerships at BSW said, “GR8 Tech’s iFrame excels in sports selection and operational flexibility, making it a perfect addition to our portfolio. Our clients will gain access to a superior solution that effortlessly enhances their sportsbook offerings to the fullest.”
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with BSW and bring our iFrame solution to even more operators. It’s already a game-changer in the industry, and we are actively expanding its reach. This partnership is a strong endorsement of the value our iFrame brings, and it’s a big step forward for us as we continue to grow and innovate,” Yevhen Krazhan, CBDO at GR8 Tech added.
GR8 Tech’s Sportsbook iFrame stands out with its broad content offering, featuring over 50 sports and esports, 25,000 daily events, and more than 2,000 betting markets. This extensive selection caters to a variety of player preferences. The iFrame’s easy integration and mobile-first design help operators quickly respond to market trends. Plus, with AI-powered content recommendations and advanced risk management, the iFrame boosts player experience and helps operators optimize margins and minimize risks. Its margin personalization feature can increase profits by over 15%, giving operators a clear edge in profitability management.
To see how GR8 Tech’s iFrame solution can elevate your iGaming business, connect with the team at upcoming events: SBC Summit Rio on February 25-27 and SPiCE South Asia on March 4-6.
The post GR8 Tech Expands Reach Across Asia and Latam Through Betting Software Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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