Is the Nanny going to reduce take outs to 5% on the dogs?

On my officially sanctioned and allowed exercise (a walk round the block) today I listened to the latest episode of The Business Of Betting podcast. 

Jake, the host, interviews Harry Findlay. I say interviews, but actually Harry talks for 50 minutes.

I am afraid that when it comes to Mr Findlay my bullshit detector does tend to bleep. However what he had to say perked my interest. He suggested that the Tote in the UK is shortly to provide pool betting on greyhound racing with a take out of only 5-10% and no rebates for big punting syndicates. 

For years now the Tote has been a rip off. When the national Tote was owned and run by Betfred the take outs were 16.5% on win pools, and a massive 25% on exactas and trifectas.

In 2019 the UK Tote left the clutches of the bald one and was acquired by the UK Tote Group. Up till now I have to admit I have not noticed much difference. There is an app on which you can bet into the placepot, and on course you fill in a form and then the tote operator manually inputs your bet into the machine (a system which takes too long and is ripe for errors).

If there really is to be the opportunity to bet into tote win pools on greyhound racing with a take out of 10% or even less then this has the potential to be a game changer. Many recreational punters like me have totally given up betting on the dogs because the overround with the bookies is 130% plus and there is no alternative.

I am still at the 'I'll believe it when I see it stage' but I genuinely hope it is true. If it is I wish the UK Tote every success.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5 for tomorrow - Grooveur has given me too much confidence!

2.05 Uttoxeter - Oski  is an utter dodge pot but is surely an each way bet to nothing? Maybe put in the forecast with Beaufort West? 2.40 Uttoxeter - Barney Bateleur is going to win over fences and this is a hurdle race so small stake only but I think Stormy Flight is handicapped to win it. Again maybe dutch them and a small dual forecast. 3.10 Uttoxeter- Susy Smith has gone all the way to the (north) midlands to run Animal. I think this horse will win again one day. Currently 6/1. 5.10 Ffos Las- Saddlers Quest. Came 5th at 100/1 under a "quiet" ride at the same track on 4 February. Should be of interest in a handicap (which this is). Sorry some of them are in the same races.
Read more

Restricting - Sorry Sir we do not want your business

Last year - before 'lockdown' obviously - I was invited by Racing UK (Racing TV as it is now) to a kind of focus group. We probably did not meet the usual diversity criteria. Basically we were all white men aged in our 50's and 60's, which I suspect makes up a considerable portion of the Racing TV subscribers. We were asked to introduce ourselves and detail our interests in racing and betting. What then followed was each of us in turn describing how we watch and bet - followed by tales of how various bookmakers restrict us. To be honest there may have been a small bit of boasting going on - "I've been banned by more bookmakers than you" - but there is little doubt that our collective experience was that if a punter shows a degree of skill in his wagering then the bookies do not want your business. I thought it might be interesting to report my experience of being restricted. My local Ladbrokes betting shop were promoting their Grid card (similar to a super...
Read more

How to bet on freemasons with sticks

Ok golf is not exactly my favourite sport - better than motor racing and ice skating maybe but apart from the Open and the Masters I struggle to take much interest. Those clothes, the saloon bar image, the rather old fashioned attitudes to women, shorts and wearing jeans, and now players and clubs which enable the top players to hit the ball so far that the best courses are no longer a challenge. In my previous job there were always a significant number of keen golfers who took every opportunity to play the sport which us non-participants called 'freemasons with sticks' (as it happens with some justification. I do though occasionally have a bet on it though. It is one of the few sports where there are regular 100/1 winners and even Tiger Woods in his pomp would go off 3/1 plus. Obviously at those prices picking the winner is difficult but there are some factors which can help. Golf is very much a form game with players having hot (and cold) streaks). The trick is to spot the pl...
Read more