A BETTING SYSTEM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3760, 28 February 1928, Page 2

A BETTING SYSTEM.

DECISION RESERVED. “SCIENTIFIC SPECULATION.” Auckland, February 25. A totalisator betting system described by its . promoters as “the greatest historic discovery which the turf has known” formed the basis of an action heard in the Police Court by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. The “system” gave rise to two charges preferred against Edward Willerson Warren (Mr. Goldstein). The first count was that defendant sent to’ Constable Haines a circular with intent to induce him to apply to defendant for advice for the purpose of wagering on horse races. The second count was that Warren caused to be inserted in the New Zealand Referee an advertisement whereby it was made to appear that defendant was willing to give information and advice as to the probable result of horse races.

■Constable Haines said he wrote to the New Zealand Reinvestment Company and received in reply a circular marked private and confidential.” 1 A heading styled the coinpany as agents for “the elimination method of scientific tolalisator speculation,” stating that the “elimination method” might well be termed “the greatest historic discovery which the turf has ever known.”

The circular went on to state: “From time immemorial the key to success in totalisator investment has been sought, and time after time the turf speculator has been driven back disheartened and sometimes ruined. A gentleman of high mathematical attainments, with a great knowledge of racing and the patience of a mole, approached the matter from the point of view of the statistician, and after analysing ten years of racing, the task taking some 15 months, arrived at a wonderful result.”

In comparing the “system” to actual practice, the circular termed the insurance companies “great betting corporations” based on the laws of probability and average, as was the case in the formulae offered by defendant for £lO 10s. Investments based on the system over the past season were said to show a return of 47 per cent., practically every second bet being called to the pay-out window. The chief detective: Really, the system advocates the strict following of form, which is the best advice of all, even if it is not always profitable. The chief detective added that the system advocated betting “on form” on the second and third days of meetings. Mr. Goldstein argued that no breach of the Act had been committed, since the system referred merely to the legalised totalisatoi, was soundly based on the actuarial lines of the laws of average, did not refer to any particular race or horse, and was, indeed, in the matter of publicity, in the same position as legalised raffles and lotteries, which were advertised. The Magistrate said he would reserve judgment on the legal aspect of the first charge.