Asia

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

Published

6 years ago

July 16, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Hong Kong’s “season like no other” ended at Happy Valley on Wednesday 15^th 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.

Asia

PhilWeb Showcases Technology-Driven Growth Vision at SiGMA Asia 2026

Published

1 day ago

June 5, 2026

Wladimir P.

philweb-showcases-technology-driven-growth-vision-at-sigma-asia-2026

PhilWeb Corporation has reinforced its position as a technology-driven company at SiGMA Asia 2026, highlighting its continuing transformation through digital innovation, scalable platform solutions and strategic technology investments aligned with the rapidly evolving digital economy in Asia.

As one of the Philippines’ established technology and platform providers, PhilWeb participated in SiGMA Asia 2026 to showcase its long-term vision centered on digital infrastructure, operational scalability, customer engagement technologies and future-ready platform development. The company’s presence at the international event reflects its broader strategy of strengthening its role within the growing technology, digital entertainment and fintech ecosystem in the region.

With more than 25 years of operational experience, PhilWeb continues to evolve alongside changing market demands and technological advancements. Over the years, the company has steadily expanded its capabilities through investments in platform modernization, integrated digital systems, payment technologies and data-driven operational tools designed to support scalable and efficient business operations.

As industries across Asia continue to undergo digital transformation, PhilWeb sees increasing opportunities in technology-enabled ecosystems where connectivity, automation, customer experience and operational efficiency play increasingly important roles in long-term business growth.

At SiGMA Asia 2026, the company highlighted initiatives focused on strengthening its digital ecosystem through improved platform capabilities, enhanced payment integration infrastructure and technology solutions designed to support seamless experiences across both physical and digital customer environments.

PhilWeb also emphasised the growing importance of integrated platforms and scalable digital operations as consumer behaviour continues to shift toward more connected and technology-driven experiences. The company continues to adapt to these evolving trends by exploring innovations that improve accessibility, operational flexibility and customer engagement.

Participation at SiGMA Asia 2026 also provided PhilWeb with opportunities to engage with international technology firms, fintech companies, digital infrastructure providers, payment solutions companies and regional business partners as it continues to strengthen its long-term growth strategy.

Beyond technology expansion, PhilWeb continues to prioritise governance, compliance-driven systems, operational transparency and sustainable business.

The post PhilWeb Showcases Technology-Driven Growth Vision at SiGMA Asia 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Asia

NODWIN and Nodding Heads launch India Games Showcase with Summer Game Fest

Published

2 days ago

June 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

nodwin-and-nodding-heads-launch-india-games-showcase-with-summer-game-fest

NODWIN Gaming and Nodding Heads Games are launching the inaugural India Games Showcase (IGS), a digital event set to premiere on June 8 as an official partner showcase of Summer Game Fest. The broadcast will feature 40 curated Indian indie games across trailers, reveals, gameplay segments and announcements.

The India Games Showcase will be accompanied by a dedicated Steam event aimed at helping players discover, follow and wishlist participating titles. The event is scheduled for 10 AM PT / 10:30 PM IST and will stream on YouTube and Twitch.

NODWIN Gaming Co-founder and Managing Director Akshat Rathee said: “There is a raw, untapped creative energy in the Indian indie ecosystem right now that is completely unique. We are seeing developers blend world-class mechanics with incredibly rich, localized storytelling that the global gaming community hasn’t experienced before. We want to make sure that a brilliant game built in India doesn’t just stay a local secret, but gets the global eyeballs, distribution, and recognition it rightfully deserves.”

Nodding Heads Games Co-founder and Game Director Avichal Singh added: “The debut of India Games Showcase proves that Indian indies are making strides as they arrive and make a presence internationally. The rise of quality and genre variety titles in recent years is very promising. Our partnership with the world’s biggest showcase, Summer Game Fest, is another mark of approval for the country. We’re excited for the times ahead.”

Ahead of the broadcast, the organisers named the first set of participating games, including Raahi (Kalp), Dodo Duckie (BornMonkie), Loop : Beginning Of Never Ending Journey (Pravin Nikam), Rakshasa (Odd Compass Studio), and Silkgrove (Gallic Entertainment). The showcase is spearheaded by Nodding Heads Games, the studio behind Raji: An Ancient Epic.

The post NODWIN and Nodding Heads launch India Games Showcase with Summer Game Fest appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Asia

EGT wins SiGMA Asia Awards 2026 for Best Land-Based Game Feature

Published

2 days ago

June 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

egt-wins-sigma-asia-awards-2026-for-best-land-based-game-feature

EGT has won the Best Land-Based Game Feature category at the SiGMA Asia Awards 2026 for the second consecutive year. The award was presented at a ceremony on 01 June, with EGT recognized for its multi-level progressive jackpot Sheng Sheng Bu Xi.

According to the company, Sheng Sheng Bu Xi is part of its Asian-themed products portfolio and is available in two titles: Bonus Boom and Bonus Craze. EGT said the feature runs across four jackpot levels with bonus mechanics including free spins and multipliers.

EGT said the feature is powered by its Exciter IV platform and is compatible with its Supreme, General and Phoenix Series slot cabinets. The company added that Sheng Sheng Bu Xi is deployed in “numerous gaming establishments globally.”

Mariana Manchina, Director of EGT Philippines Corp., said: “It is an honor to us to be acknowledged by the SiGMA Asia Awards again. Following the success of Zhao Cai Shuang Yu last year, the prize for Sheng Sheng Bu Xi is eloquent proof that our Asian-themed products are widely accepted by players, operators, and the professional gaming community as a whole. I would like to thank our customers, partners and friends for their continuous support and recognition, as well as our team, without whose creativity, talent and passion for innovation we would not have been able to have these remarkable achievements.”

The post EGT wins SiGMA Asia Awards 2026 for Best Land-Based Game Feature appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.