Hong Kong Jockey Club launches new football betting app

The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has launched a new football betting app as it looks to broaden its sports betting offering. The “GoalX” mobile app, which is available through iOS and Android, aims to provide live betting, statistics and free livestreaming of football matches all via one interface. It features a new betting user interface which automatically displays all combinations and expected dividends. In addition, it includes an animated livecast service display of team line-ups, scores, match stats, goal alerts and commentary. Users can pick a favourite team and subscribe to favourite matches to receive live information on these matches, while an AI-powered service auto-displays other matches which may be of interest. The app is integrated with biometric authentication, the existing HKJC eWallet functionality and the HKJC FPS instant funds transfer service. HKJC executive director for customer and international development Richard Cheung hailed the new app for modernising the firm’s existing digital offering. “It aims to address unmet customer needs in the current classic app in terms of rich and live football information,” Cheung added. At a divisional level, HKJC sports betting accounted for HKD$12.5bn in revenue in H1 2020. Bets taken dropped to HKD$92m as 3,273 football matches were cancelled due to Covid-19 lockdowns. Revenue from horseracing, which makes up the bulk of the firm’s operations, amounted to HKD$16.6bn, while revenue from its Mark Six Lottery operations amounted to HKD$2.4bn in H1 2020.