Asia
LONGINES Hong Kong International Races prize money rises to £11.9 million
Prize money for the 2023 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) will be worth an unprecedented £11.9 million (HK$118 million) as the December showpiece meeting continues to host the world’s richest Group 1 turf races over six furlongs (1200m), a mile (1600m) and a mile and a quarter (2000m).
The G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) – the jurisdiction’s richest race – receives a 5.9% increase to £3.63 million (HK$36 million), the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) is boosted by 8.3% to £2.62 million (HK$26 million), the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m) grows by 6.7% to £3.22 million (HK$32 million) and the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m / 1m4f) advances 9.1% to £2.42 million (HK$24 million).
| LONGINES Hong Kong International Races | Distance
(metres) |
2022/23
(HK$) |
2023/24 (HK$) |
Increase
(HK$) |
% Increase |
| Hong Kong Sprint | 1200 | $24M | $26M | $2M | 8.3% |
| Hong Kong Mile | 1600 | $30M | $32M | $2M | 6.7% |
| Hong Kong Cup | 2000 | $34M | $36M | $2M | 5.9% |
| Hong Kong Vase | 2400 | $22M | $24M | $2M | 9.1% |
Underlining their elite quality, three of last year’s G1 LONGINES HKIR features – the LONGINES Hong Kong Mile, the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint – figured in the LONGINES World’s Top 100 G1 Races in 2022.
With the glittering LONGINES HKIR meeting highlighting Hong Kong’s stunning prize money growth, each of the city’s 12 Group 1 races will rise by a minimum of HK$1 million (£100,000) – a combined HK$20 million boost (£2 million) – as part of an overall prize money increase of 10%.
The enhancements cap Hong Kong’s record prize money and incentive structure of an estimated HK$1.73 billion (£174.5 million) across the 2023/24 season.
In addition to the lucrative purses on offer at LONGINES HKIR, Hong Kong will also stage the richest Group 1 turf race over 1400m with the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) to carry HK$13 million (£1.31 million) in prize money, while the Club has also lifted Group 2 and Group 3 races to HK$5.35 million (£540,000) and HK$4.2 million (£423,000) – hikes of 7.0% and 7.7%, respectively.
Charlie Appleby has entered four in the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m), the final G1 of the Hong Kong season on Sunday 28 May at Sha Tin Racecourse. Global Storm, Rebel’s Romance, Siskany and Yibir could line up in the £1.2 million (HK$12 million) contest over a mile and a half (2400m).
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The LONGINES Hong Kong International Races continue to be widely recognised as the ‘Turf World Championships’ and the HK$118 million total prize money on offer next season also underscores the Club’s commitment to attracting and rewarding the world’s best horses and their connections.
“With growing competition around the world, it is crucial that Hong Kong’s two international race days – LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day – continue to be destinations of choice for owners, trainers and jockeys from around the world.
“As we saw in December with the successful staging of 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and again with the latest wonderful FWD Champions Day meeting, these prestigious international meetings allow us to showcase Hong Kong’s world-class racing on the global stage.”
Including substantial increases to the PP and PPG bonus scheme, Hong Kong’s domestic racing prize money pool will rise by 8% alone next season – with an additional HK$94 million (£9.48 million) on offer – to HK$1.38 billion (£139 million).
“Before the 2022/23 season, we undertook a thorough review of our prize money and incentive structure and decided then to commit to continuous investments into the future, which has resulted once more in the significant prize money and additional incentives outlined over the past two weeks,” said Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
“Providing attractive incentives and increasing returns on investments for our Owners are central to these enhancements and we believe that these increases will provide additional support proportionate to their investments.”
As a result of these substantial prize money boosts for 2023/24, the Club has also approved an extension of the closing date for the 2023 Horse Ballot until 5pm Thursday, 11 May.
Inaugural Esports World Cup is a global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom, with a record-breaking prize pool of over $60 million (500 Cr.)
Star Sports Network and the Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) today announced the acquisition of broadcasting rights for the Esports World Cup (“EWC”) 2024. The tournament, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 3rd to August 25th, will unite the global gaming communities and deliver premier competition in a unique format at an unprecedented scale. Over eight weeks, the EWC will feature the world’s top Esports clubs competing in 21 of the most popular game titles, making it the largest multi-game Esports tournament ever. As the official broadcaster, Star Sports is set to deliver comprehensive coverage of the tournament, offering viewers and fans an unparalleled Esports experience with in-depth commentary in English and Hindi. The Esports World Cup will be streamed on Star Sports’ YouTube channel and broadcast on linear TV via Star Sports First and Star Sports 2.
In 2022, BGMI Masters became the first Esports franchise to be broadcast in India by the Star Sports Network, drawing in millions of viewers over its linear television debut. Highlighting the immense popularity of the online multiplayer battle royale game, Star Sports has been instrumental in bringing esports to the mainstream Indian gaming audience.
Vikram Passi, Head Marketing – Sports, Disney Star, stated, “Esports is rapidly emerging as a significant force, fuelled by India’s burgeoning gaming culture and its recognition on the global stage. The BGMI Masters’ Series, in just a few seasons, has firmly established itself as a premier tournament in India, demonstrating the immense potential for world-class Esports competitions. With the upcoming Esports World Cup broadcast, we aim to expand our audience base, energize the gaming community, and foster greater acceptance of Esports among non-gamers. This event will not only captivate dedicated Esports enthusiasts but also engage a younger demographic across our platforms, driving a broader appreciation for the competitive gaming landscape.”
Ralf Reichert, CEO Esports World Cup Foundation, said “Our partnership with Star Sports brings the Esports World Cup to India’s massive and passionate gaming audience. Having witnessed this firsthand, I’m thrilled to nurture India’s growing esports scene and inspire future champions. With the world’s best competing in Riyadh, we hope to spark a new wave of esports fandom in India, and maybe even see an Indian team claim victory.”
The EWC will offer the largest prize pool in esports and feature the most popular esports titles across all major gaming genres. It will welcome a new cross-game competition format, awarding prizes for individual game titles and club performances. This will be a first ever Esports World Cup with a prize pool of more than $60 million (INR 500 crore)
The eight games to be broadcasted on Star Sports Network are Call of Duty: Warzone, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, Fortnite, EA Sports FC 24, and PUBG Battlegrounds .
Specific highlights include:
- Opening Broadcast: Week 1 July 3rd at 10 PM on SS First and SS YT Channel with Call of Duty: Warzone in Hindi.
- Weekly Schedule: From Week 3, starting July 18, EWC will be broadcast at 9 PM on SS2 and SS First along with SS YT Channel
- Hindi Commentary: Call of Duty: Warzone (Week 1) and Counter-Strike 2 (Week 3) will be shown with Hindi commentary on SS First along with and SS YT Channel
The Esports World Cup broadcast on the Star Sports Network will further solidify esports as one of the fastest-growing sports in India, bringing the best of global esports action to India. The Esports World Cup Foundation is pleased to share Star Sports’ vision in bringing esports to a broader audience as they continue to pave the way for the future of competitive gaming in India
The post STAR SPORTS NETWORK ACQUIRES BROADCASTING RIGHTS FOR ESPORTS WORLD CUP 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Fun88, the leading online gaming and sports betting platform, announced an exclusive offer for cricket enthusiasts and sports betting fans. As the T20 World Cup heads into the semi-finals and finals, Fun88 is raising the stakes with an unbeatable promotion. Bet during these crucial matches and claim up to INR 1 Lakh Free Bonus. This offer is the best chance to boost the bankroll before the biggest cricket showdown of the year.
This exclusive offer aims to elevate the excitement of the T20 World Cup betting, allowing participants to enjoy the thrill of the semi-finals and finals while earning rewards.
Here’s how to grab this incredible bonus:
Sign Up or Login at Fun88: New to Fun88? Register for a free account and join the cricket extravaganza. Existing players, get ready to show the inner champion.
Step 2: Place Bets: Throughout June, place bets on any cricket match to accumulate entries. The more bets placed, the higher the chances of winning a bigger bonus. If missed, don’t miss the upcoming T20 World Cup semi-finals and final matches.
Step 3: Claim the Reward: After July 1st, Fun88 will credit the free bonus directly to the main wallet, based on the Accumulated Bet Amount (1st – 30th June). Get ready to use it on the T20 World Cup matches.
This limited-time offer highlights Fun88’s commitment to enhancing the T20 World Cup experience for the passionate community. With a focus on providing a top-notch betting experience, this unique T20 Cricket World Cup promotion not only guarantees money but also adds an extra layer of excitement to the tournament.
The post Fun88 Introduces T20 World Cup Special Offers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
OKTO has announced the expansion of its revolutionary real-time cash-to-digital closed loop payment service, OKTO.CASH, into the Indian market. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in OKTO’s mission to transform payment experiences for both merchants and consumers globally.
With the introduction of OKTO.CASH in India, online merchants now have the capability to offer cash-to-digital payments at hundreds of thousands of locations across India, focusing also on small cities. The first e-merchant is already benefiting from this service, with many more expected to follow throughout the year.
OKTO.CASH is now accessible through an extensive network of over 100,000 retail points. The company plans to extend its reach to more than 500,000 retail points by the end of the year, ensuring wide availability for consumers to complete their closed-loop cash-to-digital OKTO.CASH transactions.
OKTO has a locally based dedicated team to support this expansion, ensuring the best possible service and assistance.
“This expansion underscores our commitment to delivering superior payment experiences at every transaction and in every region that requires such services. We are dedicated to empowering online merchants with enhanced payment service offerings, aligning with our strategy of being a last-mile expert and helping online merchants acquire new consumers,” Björn Katerbau, Chief Distribution Officer at OKTO, said.
The post OKTO Expands its Advanced OKTO.CASH Payment Service in India appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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