More than half of the money raised from Mark Six ticket sales goes to the prize fund to pay winning players, while the rest is divided up and allocated for specific purposes. The Lotteries Fund receives a share to support charity and welfare organisations in Hong Kong, a portion goes to lottery duty and a small amount is kept as commission by Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC).
- Prizes - 54%
- Lottery Duty - 25%
- Lotteries Fund - 15%
- HKJC Lotteries Limited Commission - 6%
The cost of a standard Mark Six entry is HK$10. The following table shows how your money is allocated when you buy a full-priced ticket.
Where The Money Goes | Amount Allocated From a Standard HK$10 Entry |
---|---|
Prizes | HK$5.40 |
Lottery Duty | HK$2.50 |
Lotteries Fund | HK$1.50 |
HKJC Lotteries Limited Commission | HK$0.60 |
Prizes
The majority of the revenue generated from Mark Six sales goes straight back to players in the form of prizes. There are seven ways to win and a different amount is allocated to each prize division. Winners in the lowest four divisions receive a fixed prize, while the top three divisions receive a specified percentage of the remaining funds.
For example, the Mark Six jackpot division receives 45% of the money left in the prize fund after the fixed prizes have been paid out and money has been allocated to the Snowball Fund. The minimum jackpot is HK$8 million, and if this is not met, it is topped up with money from the Snowball Fund. The prize fund will never receive more than 54% of the ticket revenue from each draw. Go to the Prizes page to find out how much each division receives.
Lottery Duty
The law requires that HKJC must pay government duty, as it is authorised by the state to provide the Mark Six lottery. The rate of 25% is in line with the Betting Duty Ordinance.
Lotteries Fund
The revenue allocated to the Lotteries Fund helps the Hong Kong government to support charity projects and non-profit organisations in various sectors. The Fund is the responsibility of the Social Welfare Department and grants are awarded every year to benefit services for the elderly, young people, rehabilitation and much more. Visit the Lotteries Fund page to learn more.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Commission
HKJC Lotteries Limited – the subsidiary company that operates Mark Six – is permitted to retain a small percentage of the proceeds from lottery tickets as commission for providing the game online and at betting branches.
HKJC Distribution of Revenue
The majority of Hong Kong Jockey Club’s revenue comes from horse racing and football betting. Since 2010, for example, over HK$1.2 trillion has been wagered on HKJC products and only HK$54 billion of this came from Mark Six tickets.
On average, 83% of all HKJC revenue is returned to players as prizes, dividends and rebates, while tax contributions make up the next biggest expense, with 11% returned to the state in the form of various betting duties. The Club has donated over HK$20 billion – around 2% of its revenue – to the Charities Trust since 2010, while an average of 1% has been allocated to the Lotteries Fund over the same period.
The table below shows how much revenue has been generated by the Club through its betting and lottery channels since 2010, and how this money has been distributed.
All figures are stated in $HK billion | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016-17 | 2015-16 | 2014-15 | 2013-14 | 2012-13 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 | |
Lottery Prizes, Dividends and Rebates | 182.6 | 170 | 157.7 | 143.9 | 124.9 | 112.9 | 104.8 |
Tax Contribution | 21.7 | 20.9 | 20.0 | 19.6 | 17.6 | 16.2 | 15.3 |
Club Operations | 6.8 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.8 |
Donated to Charities Trust | 3.9* | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
Lotteries Fund | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
Remaining Operating Surplus | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
Total | 216.5 | 202.7 | 188.9 | 173.8 | 152 | 138 | 128.5 |
*A special donation of HK$3.5 billion was made in addition to the Charities Trust donation in 2016-17 for the construction of the Hong Kong Palace Museum |