Participants at the Sapporo Asian Racing Conference (ARC) stated that due to technological advancements and the "McDonaldization" of illegal websites like Citibet, which makes market entry easier, illegal horse betting activities have "thrived".
James Porteous, the chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the head of research for the Asian Racing Federation's Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Financial Crime Committee, was quoted by Hong Kong news media discussing the topic:
"Because illegal companies have no regulatory overheads and do not have to worry about how to use technology to market to consumers, attract customers, and increase turnover with reputation or ethical concerns, we have found that the theme over the past two years has been technology-driven growth in illegal betting."
Porteous pointed out that new technology-led marketing has made accessing illegal betting sites easier, and cryptocurrencies have allowed operators and their clients to more easily provide payment options for such illegal activities.
Porteous also mentioned that illegal operators like Citibet even offer training, risk management, pirated live betting odds, and customer relationship management to potential betting companies for as low as $7,000; this franchising-like process is referred to as the "McDonaldization" of illegal betting.
However, technology has also evidently helped the sport of horse racing, with recent examples including the collaboration between ARC and 1/ST, and the deal between Sportingtech and BetMakers.
