THE WORLD'S WORST ANTE-POST MARKET?

The running of the Daily News 2000 was a reminder that RSA is absolutely clueless/disinterested/unimaginative regarding ante-post markets. But let's go back a step...........

After a punting 'career' spanning a lifetime I long ago realised that the only economical and realistic manner in which to give myself a shot at big money is through the judicious use of multiple bets - whether they be doubles, trebles, multiples or all-to-comes ( and certainly NOT the Saftote variety which is nothing more than theft/punter abuse ).

Now I know shrewdies might retort that a double can be effectively managed as two stand alone bets 'leg by leg' whilst probably also offering better odds. But psychologically most punters would baulk at rolling over a winning first leg into subsequent legs without, at least, removing the stake.

Given the above and the fact that most bookmakers I know LOVE laying doubles etc., it is absolutely amazing that more long term opportunities are not offered to encourage these bets.

In the UK they offer markets on races up to a year in advance. Not in South Africa.............

Let's get back to the Daily News........This was a highly anticipated race featuring a good cross section of the cream of South African three year olds. Also a massive pointer to the July if history is to be believed. In any normal betting society odds would have been offered at the LATEST after entries closed. This would have allowed punters a couple of weeks to connect doubles into the race or through it if they wished to use it as the middle pin into the July.

Instead we got early betting around about Tuesday/Wednesday with the official betting appearing around about Thursday. A tiny trickle of 'better' offers appeared on Interbet on Friday.

Compare this to the UK where I can take a double into Cheltenham ( March 2012 ) if I so wish. Certainly they would offer odds on the Daily News 2000 if it were a race with the aforementioned's relevance MONTHS in advance irrespective as to whether all of the horses quoted even ran.

Given that our industry is supposedly so stressed I cannot help but reflect that they get pretty much what they deserve as they shuffle sonambulistically from one Flamingo Park meeting to the next.

One of my pet hates and plenty oppertunities imo, have sent many emails

sportingbet/hollywood have been breaking the mindset/mould and Interbet have the perfect tool just to load the fields and let the punters/bookies establish the markets

Is it because it`s one of the worlds weekest markets?

Hibernia - Ironically your spelling error (?) says it all - They operate from week to week! There is no long term strategy.

That's why punters should be able to lay bets on Interbet operating under the licence of Interbet.
They would obviously be prohibited from laying bets elsewhere. But, the government could still collect their taxes and turnover would skyrocket. Best of all - everything would be done on a deposit basis.
This is the only way we will ever have active ante-post markets.

The British Authorities are at this moment trying to pass into law that all layers on Betfair will be taxed the same as Bookmakers are.So if Betfair becomes legal here you may be subject to Vat on your winnings BE TAXED AS A LICENCED LAYER OF HORSES plus pay a 15% withholding tax if you win more than R25000 .Think about it

Ruffian - you hit the nail on the head! The use of an exchange to the public, other than bookmakers, is probably the only way to solve the problem. Garrick - I could not agree more with what you said. If you watch any important UK Race, about 15 minutes after the race has been run, Bookmakers such as Ladbrokes, Coral, Sportingbet, William Hill, Victor Chandler, Bet365 etc etc ALL have a price for the winner to win the same race the next year. That is the sort of mentality behind the industry. However, with that being said, in SA's defence, the demand for early betting has never been sufficient enough to justify the risk. It is a good topic to be discussed by higher powers, and it is about time the SA market woke up! Sportingbet have been offering ante-post markets way before the infamous lazy Mr Finder (or Vinder, excuse my spelling of his surname) decides to get off his lazy ass and price up himself. Hollywood seem to react to Sportingbet and pretty much copy their prices. Those are the only 2 bookies who seem to be on the ball. Lets hope things change soon for the better!

Its a pity that as soon as anyone wins a decent amount at Sportingbet they cut your limit.
As for Dean Finder, he is doing a job as mandated by the bookmakers association according to their guidelines. So, the fault certainly does not lie with him.

Sounds like you and Dean are mates....well then Dean is taking the Bookmakers association for a ride! If he wanted to improve the current situation I am pretty sure he could put his hand up and suggest some ideas. It is obvious that he gets very well paid and is happy to do a mediocre job. I am not saying that his pricing is bad, I am saying that he is not improving the game, but just benfitting from his position and being selfish.

As for you and Sportingbet....you always seem to knock them and any other bookmaker for that matter. I am constantly reading all the threads, and you are ALWAYS the most negetive person. Try look at things in a different way...you might find it enjoyable!

Don't piss in the punchbowl unless you prepared to drink it mate.

I'm not friends with Dean Finder - I haven't spoken a word to the man in over 5 years. We do not move in the same circles. I do however respect the man.
I was just stating a fact. The betting committee give him a job to do within certain guidelines and percentages. Those are the people we should be criticizing. You are right in that he should probably give them suggestions to improve the product. Your attack was just a bit too nasty considering it is the committee's decision.

Primal Fear wrote : "you always seem to knock them and any other bookmaker for that matter'
Read my threads properly. I am trying to improve service from these websites. I have complimented all the websites at different times except Sportingbet and Victor Chandler because they are sore losers. For goodness sake - they don't even lay you 5k of a horse if you win a decent amount. I know you are friendly with sportingbet, but how can that be right ??

As for your friend (as you have admitted) Shezi - I HAVE ASKED HIM CONSTANTLY WHY HE CUTS LIMITS OF ANYONE WHO WINS A DECENT AMOUNT and he does not respond.

My limits too have been cut on sa racing with SPORTINBET . Ruffian has a point on this issue !!!!

Why advertise wins up to a R1 000 000 then reduce limits to paltry sums. For a punter to win a million is a very difficult task , near impossible . How much more so with these ludicrous limits . Can you imagine , to realize a max win from Sportingbet at a limit of 5k a bet you need to catch 200 individual atc's or 200 individual straight bets . I battle to find 0ne bet a meeting let alone 200 .

Sportingbet has early betting on Sa racing at the best odds . Whats the point , since our limits are minimised .Is it so they can boast that they offer the best odds .

Lm bookmakers and Betxchange are the best bookmakers . You pick up the phone and if you got money in the account you get your bets on easy no ridiculous limits full stop !!!

They cut my limit to 250 rand of a horse. Feels like a slap in the face.
I never even backed hot horses with them all the time. A lot of bets drifted and won. But I think the winning part was the problem they had. Very unprofessional. .