Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
China holds horse betting trial run
AP - Monday, December 1
BEIJING - Organized gambling on horse races has returned to mainland China for the first time since the ruling Communist Party seized power in 1949, state media reported.
The central city of Wuhan in Hubei province held a trial horse racing event Saturday in which spectators could bet on four races at the Orient Lucky City racecourse, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
It is illegal to gamble in mainland China. The Communists deemed gambling a major vice, along with opium, when they came to power, and made a priority of eliminating them.
Xinhua said spectators were allowed to place two bets for free and winners received 20 lottery tickets issued by the local sports lottery administration.
Wang Shenshun, deputy head of the city's sports administration, said Saturday's races were meant to test the racecourse, betting rules and organization, according to the report.
"The test run is preparation for an official event in the future," Wang said. "If approved, the number of China's horse races, with betting, will be upgraded to regular events being held once or twice a week."
Wang said Saturday's trial run went smoothly, but did not give an indication of when an official horse betting event could be reintroduced.
An expert estimated that 3 million jobs could be created if a nationwide betting network were set up, Xinhua said.
Annual lottery sales could reach 100 billion yuan ($15 billion), with 40 billion yuan ($6 billion) in tax revenue a year, Qin Zunwen of the Hubei Provincial Academy of Social Sciences was quoted as saying.
Popular in pre-Communist China, horse racing started to reappear during the 1990s as national races were organized and jockey clubs set up, although betting was still illegal, Xinhua said.
Horse racing is extremely popular in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China that has its own political and legal system. It is the only form of legal gambling there, run by the Jockey Club. Casinos in the nearby enclave of Macau have also started to draw streams of mainland Chinese visitors.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Golfing Internationals win Lexus Cup in Sorenstam swansongAFP - 13 minutes ago
Golf: Team International beat Team Asia to win Lexus CupChannel NewsAsia - 50 minutes ago
Sri Lankan helicopters bomb rebelsAP - 1 hour 6 minutes ago
Mumbai cop, left for dead, rides with gunmenAP - 1 hour 29 minutes ago
Sydney Opera House darkens in mourningAP - 1 hour 35 minutes ago
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
World's oldest person dies at 115 years
Saudi king says 75 dollar oil price 'fair'
Love handles increase death risk: study
Michael Jackson strikes 'amicable' deal with Arab sheikh
At least 381 dead after Nigeria clashes: witness
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular