REVISED ODDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 58, 31 May 1927, Page 6

REVISED ODDS

TOTALiSATOR RULES NEW SOUTH WALES SCHEME COMPUTATION OF DIVIDENDS "With the idea of popularising: the totalisator, and thereby increasing revenue from that source, the Government of New South Wales will shortly make drastic changes in the allocation of dividends in machine betting. From the Australian Jockey Club’s June meeting, every totalisator, on registered. unregistered, and trotting courses through New South Wales will be run under Government rules. MONEY BACK The new scheme of apportioning divdends will ensure that the backers of place-getters will be returned their stake. The system which will be adopted is a form of “concession” betting, plus a dividend for every place-getter. From the total amount invested on the machine, the usual percentages for the Government, the club and the tote companies will be deducted. FOR BIG PUNTERS Then, against every 10s ticket sold on a placed horse, 10s will be placed aside, and the remaining money will be split up into the percentages now in operation at the “ponies”—so per cent, for first, 30 per cent, for second, and 20 per cent, for third, and divided among the backers of each placed horse. By this means it is hoped to encourage big punters to bet with the totalisator. MAKING IT POPULAR The adherents of the scheme believe that this “super-concession” form of betting will prove so popular that much of the money now speculated in the betting ring on favourites who look certain to run into a place will be diverted from the books because of the added attraction of ‘the ‘ more than your money back if he runs into a Xfiace” clause of the new system. If the scheme does not prove a success, there is nothing to prevent its being dropped, and some variaton of it being adopted. The scheme which will then be adopted is a place tote. In that case, the money invested on each placegetter will be returned, while the amount left for division among investors will be allocated on a 33 1-3 per cent, basis. MONKEYING WITH IT People at Rosehill last Saturday week who customarily bet with the totalisator, alike with others who might easily be attracted to the machine, eagerly discussed the new methods of calculating divdends which is to come into force next week. Doubts were freely expressed whether the mechanical bookmaker will be made more popular by the alterations. One critic summed up the ideas of many when he remarked: “It would be interesting to know what genius has set this pitfall for the Government.” i ROBBING PETER “It seems to me,” said another, “that in the desire to prevent the backers of a hot favourite from losing their money if it runs second (which would probably mean at present that it would return a dividend smaller than the amount invested), those people are to be unduly benefited at the expense of backers of the horse that beats the favourite.” One of Saturday’s races may be taken as an example of how inequitably the new arrangement will work. In the Juvenile Handicap the placed horses were Winalot, Rosso and Wedonga. Say Winalot was favourite at 2 to 1, Rosso second favourite at 4 to 1, and Wedonga only fifth iri demand at 10 to 1. The dividends were: Winalot 255, Rosso 9s 6d, Wedonga 18s. DIVIDING UP According to the new regulations sufficient money has first to be taken from the amount held by the machine to guarantee backers of the placed horses their money back. Then the remainder is divided in the proportion of first 50 per cent., second 30 per cent., and third 20 per cent. Under this scheme Winalot’s dividend would drop to 19s, Rosso’s would go up from 9s to 16s, and Wedonga’s would be the same at 18s. It is difficult to imagine that such a method of equalisation will encourage the backing on the machine of favourites in handicaps, which is be- ' lieved to be the desire of the framers of the regulation. DRIVEN TO THE BOOKIE Rather it will tend to drive the small punter into the bags of the bookmakers. While there are always people who will play for safety, the psychology of the Australian as a class makes of him a neck or nothing gambler, prepared to stand or fall by the risk he takes. If he wins, he expects a reasonable gain; he is quite ready, if he loses, to take his medicine. A machine that whittles away his gain, as in the case quoted, is not likely to appeal to him. MISSING LINK ARISTOCRATS OF C.J.C. ANIMATED DISCUSSION When one looked over the names one could not help thinking that their officers, from time immemorial, were representative of the aristocratic class, said Mr. F. W. Johnston at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club. (Hear, hear! and laughter.) What he was saying was non-political, nonsectarian, and non-class, but it was a pity that there were on the committee no representatives of the hoi polloi. The chairman (Mr. George Gould): “What about Mr. Barrett and myself,” Mr. Barrett: “Don’t couple me with you.” Mr. Johnston referring to Mr. Barrett) ; “Perhaps he doesn’t like being called ‘hoi polloi’ ” ! Mr. Barrett: “I am ‘aristoi.’ ” Mr. Johnston continuing said that at the race meetings one felt a want of connection that made one feel an outsider. It would have been better if those in command of the club for so many years had considered if it would not be better if there were more representatives of all classes of the community, rather than of one branch, on the committee. He suggested that during the next twelve months the committee might consider this matter. “No doubt we have been going back for years,” he added, “and probably a little leavening might be a help.” (Applause.) COMMIT HARI-KARI The chairman (jocularly) : “We will have to commit —what do they call it in Japan ?” Mr. Johnston: Hari-kari. The chairman: Or possibly extend the committee. Continuing, Mr. Gould referred to the necessity for a full representation i of town members to deal with matters from week to week. But it was not the committee’s fault that people did not stand for office. He agreed with Mr. Johnston on the point that it would be a healthy sign to see 24 persons standing for the 12 seats on the committee, and for the club to make its choice. Mr. Johnston thought that it was due to the natural diffidence in people who did not feel like pushing in. If they felt that the olive branch was held out to them there would be plenty of candidates.