In the beginning I was one of the VERY few who stood up for the fluctuations in payouts simply because I thought I knew how the tote operates and I also thought I could give plausable reasons for why there were such funny payouts.
I have decided that even though my knowledge on the tote and its workings is sound, I cannot for the life of me figure out why the payouts are so erratic.
I decided to ask for help from a VERY reliable source. I wanted this person to explain to me how these pools would be co mingled and what the processes where for getting things done. The answers I got from him were pretty much as I expected but with a few VERY interesting additions.........
Firstly P would never be able to dissuade the international guys of punting until the start of a race, and surely it should be their right. The tote system currently in operation in SA can accept receiving information from overseas tote operators into a comingled pool. (Obviously) The information CAN (and should) be sent from the overseas operators lets say....every 10 seconds. The overseas systems does not send ALL the ticket information. All they send is simply the full amount of the pool/s as well as the actual amounts bet on each horse. All the rest of the information gets kept on the local system.(All individual bets) IF these amounts gets sent every 10 seconds then there should be minimal amounts of information to be sent after the close of the race. This current system CAN NO DOUBT handle the colation of information on this basis........
Secondly why is Phumelela allowing the tote terminals to stay open for an extra 1 minute after the close of a race??????? This should NOT BE ALLOWED UNDER ANY CIRCUIMSTANCES. Their excuse is that the trade unions require them to keep the terminals open??? That is a weak excuse as this move clearly compromises the integrity of payouts and final dividends declared.
Thirdly my source is of the opinion that with all the time they spent in racing admin. they noticed how consistent the payouts where in relation to their starting prices. If there was A (singular) fluctuation then it bore a full investigation. To have multiple anomalies and not investigate to such an extent that you completely stop the comingling is beyond us!!!
Lastly if you want to affect the payouts in a meanigful fashion one of two things have to happen:
a) You have to place a substantial amount in relation to the pool.
b) Have a winning bet.
The last statement is particularly worrying. It could then be quite concievable that somebody is placing bets after the off/race has run as the most noticeable discrepancies are almost ALWAYS on the winners!!
In conclusion it is my opinion that Phumelela did not test the capabilities of their software or the effect that comingled pools will have on our local pools. In this alone they have failed our local punters. They should be 200% sure of all their moves before implementing such a broad and far reaching programme.
If I may make some suggestions to Phumelela they would be the following:
1) Insist on more frequent periods for the transfer of data. It should be happening about once every 10 seconds. The penultimate transfer happening on the off and the FINAL bundle of information 10 seconds after the off. This will ensure that the delay between the off and final collation is not more than approx. 15 to 20 seconds.
2) DO NOT LET OPERATORS TERMINALS REMAIN OPEN FOR A MINUTE AFTER THE OFF!!!!!!
3) Test all your systems COMPLETELY before putting it into operation.
We all know that there are scammers and hackers out there. Imagine one of them figuring out that P allows for cancellations and changes after the race is almost complete?????
You figure out the rest.
Scotia, perhaps it is time we ask these questions to Phumelela? I know you have done this before but we cannot accept what is happening anymore, or we all should just not punt on the tote period!!!!!
I hope this makes sense!!!
b)
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