Betting turnover for races has risen by 3 percent to nearly HK$140 billion over the latest horse racing season that concluded on Wednesday, with the city's gaming operator calling the increase "a very encouraging return to growth".

The Hong Kong Jockey Club, which announced the results on Thursday, also said it welcomed more than 1.7 million people to its racecourses, up more than 13 percent from 2023-24.

Among those turning up at the racecourses were a record 195,700 tourists from the mainland.

"It has been a real pleasure to welcome so many tourists from overseas and the mainland to our racecourses and to see how much they appreciate the unique quality of our racecourse experience, which is truly like no other," said chief executive Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

"Next season there will be even more to impress them, including an entirely new arrival experience at Sha Tin Racecourse."

Racing turnover was more than HK$138.8 billion, representing a 3 percent increase.

"This is a very encouraging return to growth after the 4.5 percent decline last season, and reflects the success of strategies introduced last year," the club said, attributing the rise to factors such as rising mainland and international sports tourism.

The 847 Hong Kong races held across 88 meetings attracted HK$125.7 billion in turnover, while over HK$13.1 billion was wagered in 393 overseas simulcast races.

The betting income from local customers, however, dropped 0.7 percent.

Betting duties for the latest season came in at HK$12.8 billion, down 0.8 percent.