HK Jockey Club reduces operations after Covid-19 spike

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has closed seven off-course betting branches following the increase in Covid-19 cases in the city.

Hong Kong.- The Hong Kong Jockey Club has taken new measures following the increase in Covid-19 cases, closing off-course betting branches and postponing the resumption of the Mark Six Lottery.

The Club issued a statement saying it had taken notice of the spike in positive cases in Hong Kong, and therefore decided to close seven off-course betting branches. Other branches will remain open for cashing-in vouchers or winning tickets, betting accounts deposits and withdrawals and racing ticket sales.

It will also no longer resume the Mark Six Lottery draw on July 21 as it had scheduled.

The club said: “We fully understand that our customers are looking forward to the resumption of the Mark Six draws which has been suspended since 1 February this year. It was also our original plan to resume the draw on 21 July. However, the latest worrying development of the COVID-19 situation does not facilitate us to resume Mark Six draws as scheduled”.

The company said there used to be between 400,000 to 500,000 customers visiting their betting shops to purchase their Mark Six tickets for every draw, while ongoing pre-sale tickets for races only attracts about 130,000 people.

It feared the heavier traffic brought by the lottery could be a potential risk for Covid-19 contagion and decided to suspend the resumption of Mark Six draws.

Other measures announced by the Jockey Club include the cancelation of its annual Champions Awards Ceremony and Dinner, which was set to be celebrated at the Rosewood Hotel on July 16.

The Club said: “We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 developments and decide whether more OCBBs are required to temporarily suspend business.”