Deal made for Hong Kong signal in U.S.

The Las Vegas Dissemination Company wagering service has acquired the simulcast rights to the signal from the Hong Kong Jockey Club and plans to offer commingled betting on the signal beginning Sept. 8, an official of the company said Wednesday.

Betting directly into the pools of Hong Kong racing from outside the region had been impossible until this summer, when the government of the Chinese administrative region rescinded policies that prevented foreign customers from betting into local pools.

Vincent Magliulo, a vice president of Las Vegas Dissemination, said on Wednesday that the company hopes to sell the signal to account-wagering companies and simulcast locations across the United States. The signal cannot be offered until the races are approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, which has scheduled a hearing for Aug. 8 to rule on the jockey club's application.

Betting on the cards at Hong Kong's two racetracks typically exceeds $100 million. Bet types that are identical to those in the United States include win, quiniella, trifecta, and daily double. Place bets are booked like those in many countries in Europe, in which a horse can finish third and still place depending on the size of the field, and the Jockey Club also offers a range of relatively unusual bets that would require additional programming of the U.S. bet-processing system in order to offer those type of wagers to U.S. fans.

Magliulo said that Las Vegas Dissemination hoped to offer all the bets that are offered in Hong Kong.

Post time for the first race on most Hong Kong cards is 11 p.m. Eastern.