Scotia`s visit to the Tote..

Hi everyone, just to give you some feedback on my visit to the Tote operation at Harrison Street in Joburg.

The background: we had a thread on the site "Is the Tote being manipulated"?

I was invited by Margaret to pay them a visit and be shown how the facility operates.

Was given an overview by Rui Pereira (General Manager) Information technology, including a full tour of all operations,
also introduced to Jose Sousa (IT Operations Manager) and was introduced to all the staff and given a free reign to ask any questions.

Its a fairly impressive set up from the Servers, 3 (one master 2 slaves) at Harrison St. and 2 back up at the big T .

The system is run from AMTOTE (States) as far as the design and any changes in new bets and setting up has to go via the gambling board and AMTOTE.

Phumelela operation do no development and basically do a "dummy run" on any additions after AMTOTE gives the go ahead.

Plenty back-up with UPS, and including a diesel generator, "every" bet goes via this operation.

They have well trained staff, training facility, work shop, many checks and balances in place including on site auditors.

It was only racing from Australia this morning, but it must be buzzing in full swing.

A capacity of up to 180 operators answering calls can be facilitated.



I was given print out before and after the races, shown how the switch is thrown at the off, including for overseas as well as local.

If a race is due at 12.00, you get a one minute warning, if a race is delayed a senior staff member gives the call, however the exact time of the off is on the computer print outs with all bets struck with times etc.

After watching all this, I was certainly under the impression that no back door bets etc, are taken via this well controlled environment.

So back to the burning question "how does the prices and dividends change after the off"?

The first race I watched, a harness race from Australia, race was closed about 5 secs before the off.

The race time was 10.00.59 when the outgoing transmission report is sent to Aus and then they add the hold from overseas and it came back at 10.01.57, basically 58 secs later and the race finished another minute after this.

As far as cancelled bets, all bets of R500 and over have to get an authorization number and it has a grace of 20 seconds into the race, in Australia they have 55 secs, so hope they have no Divine Acts and Tommy Hotspurs running?

The co mingling from Aus, is on W/P, exacta, doubles and the stand alone is swingers and trifectas

From UK its W/P swingers and exactas and the stand alone is trifectas, quartet, jackpot and PA.

Sweden is W/P and Doubles and stand alone is swingers, exacta and trifecta.

Max tote bet is R2,000 win, so if you ask for R10,000 you get 5 tickets, if its a call bet the operator punches 5 different transactions.

You can`t cancel bets via the Internet, only by phone or by being at a terminal.

So the bottom line is YES the TOTE does change after the off and if you consider comingling movements in and out both ways, bets being cancelled 20 secs after the off, and in some cases can be "substantial" and can be located via branch and Investigations carried out. I cannot really comment on the detail, but would say that a few "punters" have probably found out how to manipulate the TOTE to the best of their advantages.

I give you this feedback as an observer as I am no IT specialist but would like to thank all the people I met for the hospitality and transparency.

scotia

Those picturees bring back memories....I spent most of my childhood in that Harrison street building. Holidays I was there and a lot of other times too!!

I still hold fast that was Scotia has seen has now proven my previous posts...Phumelela is NOT manipulating the tote. There are however circuimstances out of their control. Punters who make a mockery of some bet types cannot be helped for. This is something that can only be changed by not allowing ANYBODY to cancel a bet after the 5 minute warning!!!

Thanks for the report Scotia!!! I certainly enjoyed the trip down memory lane!!

Must say Tommy, last time I was in that area was Loveday St, with the bookies upstair, but they are in the process of upgrading the facilty, looks better inside than outside.

Well, Harrison street will always be the hub of "TAB Transvaal" for me, that will never change.

Unfortunately due to my involvement with TAB I can never openly "admit" to calling it Phumelela....LOL

Remember the good old days of the Loveday Street bookmakers and the bookmakers at Bruma lake. When you coudl phone up RamonSolomon and get WHATEVER you wanted on whatever horse you wanted it on????

Oh well, lets not reminece too much!!

Once again good job Scotia. At least we know the powers that be take heed of what is being said on this thread.

loved the old stories

the punter would come up take an even 20 grand, bookie would write the ticket without looking up then ask the clerk to go 11/10 as the punter walks away.

lol

Good one Scotia. Appears as though they have nothing to hide and are opening up to the punter. There will probably be lots of bullets fired at this post, but lets hope that posters will be constructively critical and not just fire off unjustified opinion.

judging by the Apple Princess post manipulation is still very possible though. I am of the opinion that the collusion starts with a large number of small bets rather than a couple of large ones. No system is perfect, not even microsoft could get vista right, so no system is bullet proof to those who manipulate in their favour.

Thanks to all who made this visit possible. I am hoping that this is the first step to constructive critism that could lead to useful change. We all love this game lets use our energys to inforce change rather go gung ho and shoot everything down

Thank you Al, pity you could not make the trip.