The Hong Kong Jockey Club received a high-level delegation led by Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ms Ghada Fathi Waly on 22 May 2024 and exchanged views on upholding sports integrity.

This event underscored the Club’s commitment to maintaining the highest level of integrity across every aspect of its operations and to safeguarding the community from the dangers of illegal gambling.

During the visit, Club officials briefed the UNODC delegation on the nature and scale of illegal gambling in Hong Kong, with illegal gambling turnover in 2023 estimated to be in excess of HK$350 billion. They outlined the unique role the Club plays, via its Integrated Business Model, in providing regulated and responsible wagering and ensuring that the proceeds benefit the community via tax contributions and charity donations.

Club officials also explained how through its support for the Asian Racing Federation’s Council on Anti-Illegal Betting & Related Financial Crime, the Club is helping to promote integrity and anti-illegal gambling measures across the region.

The UNODC delegation witnessed some aspects of the Club’s operations and integrity control measures during a visit to Happy Valley Racecourse.

Commenting on the visit, Ms Waly said: “The manipulation of sports competitions, including through illegal betting and match fixing, strikes at the very heart of sporting integrity, while fueling other forms of criminal activities such as money laundering. The Hong Kong Jockey Club has implemented important procedures to safeguard sport from corruption, which I was pleased to witness during my visit. UNODC is committed to working with the Club as part of our broader efforts to keep sport clean from corruption and financial crime, and ensure sport remains a pillar of fairness and integrity.”

Mr Andrew Harding, Club Executive Director, Racing said the Club was very encouraged by the support from UNODC: “Our collaboration with UNODC demonstrates our dedication to upholding integrity not just in racing but in all sports. This visit not only strengthens the ties between the Club and UNODC but also reinforces our commitment to fighting corruption and illegal gambling and to promoting the integrity of sports through international collaboration.”

Mr Moray Taylor-Smith, Club Executive Director, Security, Integrity and Information Security remarked: “UNODC and the Club share the same commitment to supporting governments, sports organisations and other key stakeholders in tackling illegal betting and financial crimes that threaten the integrity of sports globally. The Club looks forward to contributing more in capacity building and experience sharing as we jointly tackle this growing threat.”

Dr Gabriel Leung, Club Executive Director of Charities and Community, added that the Club’s unique Integrated Business Model has brought significant benefits to the community. This includes not only protecting it from the dangers of illegal gambling, but channeling the proceeds via tax contributions and charity donation for the benefit of all. This is what makes Hong Kong so unique.    

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the HKSAR Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2022/23, the Club returned a total of HK$35.9 billion to the community. This included HK$28.6 billion to the HKSAR Government in duty, profits tax and Lotteries Fund contributions and HK$7.3 billion in approved charity donations.  The Club is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is one of the world’s top ten charity donors.