Hong Kong's racing quota system took effect in December 2023, capping the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) at 88 local race days, 25 simulcast races and 37 simulcast days per season, according to a Legislative Council brief published by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau1.
The brief states the arrangement plainly: "The above racing quota system has taken effect since December 2023."1 The same document records how the limits were reached. In January 2021 the Executive Council advised and the Chief Executive ordered that HKJC's proposal to raise the maximum number of simulcast days per year by 14, from 23 to 37, and to allow the extra days during the summer break from 17 July to 31 August starting in 2021, should be accepted1. In October 2023 the same body accepted HKJC's proposals to raise the maximum number of simulcast races per year by 15, from ten to 25, and the maximum number of non-local races per simulcast day from nine to 121.
The brief ties the increases to betting turnover and to illegal betting. Local bets on simulcast races rose from HK$4,496 million in the 2019/20 financial year to HK$10,591 million in 2023/24, an increase of 135.6%1. HKJC recorded a cumulative reduction of around 41% in illegal betting website visitations after the 14 additional simulcast days per season from 2020/21, and an average reduction of around 12% after the 15 additional simulcast races and the higher per-day limit from 2023/241.
The brief also sets out the current authorized gambling outlets in Hong Kong: horse racing, football betting and Mark Six Lottery as organized by HKJC, plus certain gaming activities authorized by a public officer appointed by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs under the Gambling Ordinance (Cap. 148), such as mahjong parlors1.
| Quota | Limit per season |
|---|---|
| Local race days | 88 |
| Simulcast races | 25 |
| Simulcast days | 37 |
What it means for players
The quota fixes how much racing and how many overseas races are available to bet on through the authorized channel in Hong Kong in a season. The brief does not state how the 88 local race days are distributed across the season, and that has not been reported1.
What happens next
The brief, dated June 2025, sets out proposals to raise the caps. Under Proposal B, the maximum simulcast races per season would rise from 25 to 40 for the 2025/26 racing season and from 40 to 55 from 2026/27, while simulcast days would rise from 37 to 53 for 2025/26 and from 53 to 70 from 2026/271. The Executive Council advised and the Chief Executive ordered on 17 June 2025 that the proposal should be accepted1. The brief also covers a separate Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 on basketball betting, with publication in the Gazette on 20 June 2025 and first reading and the start of the second reading debate on 2 July 20251.
Sources1 sources
- Legislative Council brief, hyab.gov.hk
