The Jockey Club has received government approval to significantly up its simulcast programme, with the number of overseas meetings offered for betting to Hong Kong punters increasing from 37 to 70 in the next two years.

The number of meetings the Jockey Club can simulcast will jump from 37 to 53 in the 2025-26 season and climb to 70 in 2026-27, while the number of simulcast races – races from overseas shown on Hong Kong race days – will increase from 25 to 40 from 2025-26 and rocket to 55 from the 2026-27 season.

This week’s Royal Ascot festival is one of the biggest simulcast events of the season, with punters wagering HK$364.3 million on Wednesday’s card, HK$31 million of which the Jockey Club paid to the government as betting duty.

The latest rise continues a steady increase in the Jockey Club’s simulcast product, while betting on basketball will also soon be available to Hongkongers.

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club welcomes the approval granted by the HKSAR government [HKSARG] to progressively increase simulcast quotas over two racing seasons starting from 2025-26,” said the Jockey Club in a statement.

“The club believes this arrangement will help tackle illegal betting by channelling betting demand to its legal channel.

“As a long-standing partner of the HKSARG, the club has long supported its efforts to combat illegal betting. This includes providing legal and regulated gambling channels to prevent the public from betting illegally.

“With this increase in simulcast quotas, the club’s fixtures will cover most of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities World’s Top 100 Group One Races.

“This will strengthen the club’s position and efforts to combat illegal betting on non-local horse racing.

“As a world-class racing and sports organisation, which always calls Hong Kong home, the proposal will support the club’s efforts to promote the internationalisation of Hong Kong racing, thereby supporting HKSARG initiatives to tell good stories about Hong Kong and promote racing tourism.

“It will also foster global and local racing business development and enhance Hong Kong’s status as a leading jurisdiction in the global racing arena, as well as providing more tax revenue and contributions to support social betterment.”