Following the suspension of its draws in February due to COVID-19, Asian operator Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) has announced that it will be resuming operations for its Mark Six lottery game from 24 September.

The initial service restart will see the operator offer solely online and telebet services for the purchase of tickets, with no sales being made at HKJC’s off-course betting branches (OCBBs), in order to adhere to public safety guidelines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the operator has revealed that If the pandemic continues to stabilise it will resume the physical sale of tickets in OCBBs in the fourth quarter of 2020.

With this being said, HKJC customers will still be authorised to visit OCCBs to set up their e-wallets, or open or reactivate betting accounts. Moreover, the OCCB’s will also be open to those looking to set up fund transfer facilities for purchasing tickets in the future. 

Tickets for the first draw will be made available from 17 September, with draws for the Mark Six lottery initially set to be held once a week, with the first three taking place on 24 September, 29 September and 8 October.

Due to the COVID enforced closure back in February, revenue for the lottery was down 39.0% year-on-year in 2020, however, the operator has stated that this vertical would have declined regardless as a result of a lack of changes to the game format.