Betting on tech: Digital tables raise the stakes at the Hong Kong Jockey Club

The Hong Kong Jockey Club has cracked the conundrum of the century: to get young people's attention, just make everything more like an iPad app.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, admits that horse racing is seen by the younger generation as "a touch outdated."

So his team went about remedying the situation by setting up two multi-touch interactive tables at Adrenaline, the lounge at The Hong Kong Jockey Club in Happy Valley that is now open to the public.

Basically giant tablets, the interactive tables allow four punters to place bets at the same time.

... but losing money is just as easy as it ever was."It's to attract young beginners who are having trouble getting the hang of racing," says Scarlette Leung, Director of Corporate Business Planning and Programme Management.

"There is also a social element to it as many betters can use the table at the same time."

The tables are also loaded up with useful racing info, such as all the stats of the jockeys and horses, and even videos of the beasts in action. 

We have ascertained that, unfortunately, interactive tables do not make winning any easier. The rules of the game remain the same, after all.

Getting there: Adrenaline, Level 2 and 3 Pavilion Stand, Happy Valley Racecourse, 1 Sports Road, Happy Valley, +852 3690 3690, entertainment.hkjc.com. Open 6:15 p.m-11 p.m. during Happy Valley race nights.