The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has revealed a strong performance for its internationally commingled betting platform, World Pool, with turnover on overseas races increasing nearly 20 per cent in 2025 compared with the prior year. According to the latest data, wagering on races outside Hong Kong totalled about HK$9.3 billion (US$1.19 billion) across 57 overseas race days, up from HK$7.8 billion in 2024 — a significant boost in global betting engagement.
Singapore’s Changi Airport has capped off 2025 with a historic milestone, welcoming 70 million passenger movements, its highest annual total on record and a clear signal that international travel demand has fully rebounded. The performance surpasses pre-pandemic levels and reflects Changi’s rapid recovery as a major global air hub, supported by strong regional and long-haul traffic across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas.
Japan’s national government has approved a draft 5.4 percent year-on-year increase in the annual budget for the Japan Casino Regulatory Commission (JCRC) for the 2026 financial year, lifting the total to JPY 3.91 billion (about US$25.0 million) from roughly JPY 3.71 billion in 2025. The move underscores continued emphasis on strengthening the country’s casino regulation framework as integrated resort development proceeds.
The NBA has officially announced that it will bring its pre-season basketball spectacle back to Macau in October 2026, continuing its expanded global footprint following the successful NBA China Games in 2025. According to multiple sources, the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are scheduled to play two pre-season games at The Venetian Arena on October 9 and October 11, 2026, in what is being billed as a “Texas showdown” at the heart of the NBA’s renewed endeavors in Asia.
Black Spade Acquisition III Co, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by an affiliate of Black Spade Capital — the family office and private investment vehicle tied to Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho — has priced its initial public offering (IPO), aiming for a New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) debut on 6 January 2026. The offering consists of 15 million units priced at US$10 each, targeting gross proceeds of about US$150 million. Each unit includes one Class A ordinary share and one-third of a redeemable warrant, with whole warrants exercisable at US$11.50 per share once trading separately.
Author: Janice Chew • Wednesday, 07/01/2026
