HKJC Reports Record HK$39.3b Community Contribution

The Hong Kong Jockey Club used its annual results this week to make a broader point about what the organization is in Hong Kong’s economy. On September 2, after its annual general meeting, the Club said it returned a record HK$39.3 billion to the community for the financial year ended June 30, 2026. That figure was not a single donation pool. It combined taxes, Lotteries Fund contributions and approved charity donations generated through the Club’s racing, wagering, membership and community businesses. ### What exactly counts toward the HK$39.3 billion? HK$39.3 billion was made up of three buckets. The Club said it paid HK$29.3 billion to the Hong Kong government in betting duty and profits tax, contributed HK$1.4 billion to the Lotteries Fund, and approved HK$8.6 billion in charity donations through its Charities Trust. (hkjc.com) The Club presents those items together as its “community contribution,” rather than describing the number only as philanthropy. That framing matters because most of the total came from taxes and statutory contributions linked to wagering and lottery activity, with the rest coming through its charitable arm. (hkjc.com) ### Where did the money come from? Record wagering and lottery turnover of HK$331.7 billion underpinned the result in fiscal 2025/26, according to the Club. The Standard, citing the Club’s annual meeting disclosures, reported that total revenue from gaming and non-gaming sources rose 3.1% to HK$50.8 billion. (hkjc.com) HK$143.3 billion of turnover came from racing across 88 meetings, while football turnover reached HK$179 billion and Mark Six turnover HK$9.4 billion, The Standard reported. It also said commingling — bets placed from 26 countries and jurisdictions on Hong Kong races — accounted for HK$34.3 billion, or 23.9% of total racing turnover. (hkjc.com) ### Why did the Club stress “despite major challenges”? The Hong Kong Jockey Club said illegal gambling remained a major pressure in the year. In its September 2 statement, the Club said it was competing with a “huge and growing illegal gambling market” while also managing the ongoing impact of a HK$2.4 billion annual Special Football Betting Duty. (thestandard.com.hk) The Club also said the Hong Kong government had unexpectedly paused granting a licence for regulated basketball betting. It said it had already invested substantially in preparation for a planned 2026 launch of that service. ### What did executives say about the result? Martin Liao, chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the year highlighted the strength of the Club’s racing business and its “enduring commitment” to “the betterment of our society.” He said the performance of Hong Kong horses helped reinforce the city’s global racing position and drew record tourist numbers to racecourses. (hkjc.com) Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Club’s chief executive officer, said the organization achieved “outstanding results both on and off the track” despite what he described as a challenging and fast-changing environment. The Club’s annual report repeats that language and ties it to the success of long-term strategies and to headline horses including Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior. (hkjc.com) ### Why is this bigger than a racing story? The Inland Revenue Department share is one clue. The Club said its betting duty and profits tax accounted for 6.4% of all taxes collected by Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department in the 2025/26 assessment year. Founded in 1884, the Hong Kong Jockey Club describes itself as operating a “value creation model” built on racing and racecourse entertainment, responsible sports wagering and lottery, membership, and charity and community contribution. (corporate.hkjc.com) The latest results are being presented through that lens: not just as sports performance, but as a mix of public revenue, regulated betting activity and grant-making. (hkjc.com) ### What comes next after these results? The Club said more Year of the Horse-themed events will be held in the coming months after a fireworks display on February 18 and a Year of the Horse Raceday at Sha Tin on February 19. The Standard also reported that Ka Ying Rising is due to run at the 2026/27 season opener at Sha Tin on Sunday, while the Club continues to press its case for a regulated basketball betting licence. (corporate.hkjc.com) (hkjc.com)