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機密
CONFIDENTIAL P
XCC(79)33
Telephone Betting
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The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club started telephone betting in 1975. To date, it has a total of 40, 000 subscribers.
It is understood that the Jockey Club intends to extend and to improve this service to cover 100,000 subscribers in the next two to three years when the service is expected to have been computerised.
In view of the extensive use of telephone betting by illegal bookmakers and the popularity of such service among people genuinely interested in betting, it is hoped that, as a further step to combat illegal off- course betting, the club will soon overcome its problems relating to computerisation so that this expansion scheme can be implemented as soon as practicable.
Exotic Bets
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As a deliberate measure to combat illegal betting, the Jockey Club has, since the commencement of legal off-course betting, introduced five types of exotic pools which offer attractive dividends for relatively small outlay. Judging from the growth in their popularity, as evident from the monies wagered (Annex A), it has been suggested that these bets might have encouraged the gambling habit. There is, however, little conclusive evidence that such a development has taken place. On the other hand, it is generally believed that, through the attractive odds offered, exotic pools must have made considerable inroads into the illegal market, thus substantially achieving the objective of diverting bookmakers' business into legal channels.
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The senior officials of the Jockey Club have indicated to the Secretary for Home Affairs in October 1978 that they have no plans to introduce further forms of exotic bets within the foreseeable future; they have also agreed to consult and seek agreement from Government should they wish to develop other forms of exotic bets.
Racing Fixtures
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In memorandum XCC(77)75 on the subject of Sunday racing on 11th October 1977, Members were informed, inter alia, that upon the completion of the Sha Tin Race Course, the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club intended to organise 77 meetings (615 races) in 1978/79, in order to fulfill its various financial commitments. The Jockey Club has subsequently sought, and been granted, approval for 69 race meetings including six Sunday afternoons, more mid-week evening meetings and an extension of the racing season into the summer months by a total of five weeks. In approving the Jockey Club's expanded racing programme, it was envisaged by Government that this would further reduce the opportunity for illegal betting on Macao greyhound racing.
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