Why don't they just...

Much appreciated, GS.

What doesn't seem clear is whether the £50m+ mentioned in the bottom paragraph includes or is in addition to the 10.75% contribution.

Given the size of the industry, it doesn't seem an awful lot. Spread betting firms seem to be getting away very lightly but I imagine their turnover is much smaller. I don't think I've had a spread bet since the Pricewise table stopped including them.
 
Desert Orchid said:
What are the sources of those figures, GS?

I'm entirely open to correction if the facts support it.

Martin, I wasn't aware of the situation in France. I haven't been racing there since the late 1970s but I recall very healthy attendances at Le Bouscat [Bordeaux], Longchamp and Chantilly.

The £££s I mentioned were entirely notional and erring extremely conservatively, basing it on the idea of there being 25,000 betting shops in the country (the last time I checked a few years back there were supposed to be 34,000) taking in an average of just £4 on that ordinary race I suggested.
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Cheers DO - the Tote situation is a very recent development (the last 2-3 years) with the likes of Geny, Ziturf, Le Turf all taking bets from French customers using a tote system.

As far as I know only the Arc, Prix De Diane and the odd local provincial meeting could be described as "well attended". There are plenty of race meetings in Paris at the big tracks that attract few racegoers and the same is true in certain large cities (Toulouse, Nantes etc).
 
The French could improve their racecourse attendances by having philosophy debates after racing.
 
Thanks, Martin. For all that the tracks may no longer be well attended (shame), is betting less popular than before?

When I worked in France it seemed the local cafe was always full of middle-aged blue-collar guys with well-thumbed copies of Paris Turf making constant visits to the PMU counter, pastis in hand, to make their bets.

(I miss those days something awful.)
 
Aragorn said:
This says it all in a picture.

Which highly prestigious and very valuable Group 1 was this GS?
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Grand Prix De Paris.

I do it a slight disservice as it did get a bit busier for the main race but only because they were showing the World Cup final and had some eurodance DJ playing afterwards!
 
GS and IS. Your contributions re racing in France on this thread have been a real eyeopener for me. I probably had a similar image of French racing to that of DO. Thanks for the enlightenment!
 
Gamla Stan said:
Grand Prix De Paris.

I do it a slight disservice as it did get a bit busier for the main race but only because they were showing the World Cup final and had some eurodance DJ playing afterwards!
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Their main 3yo 1m4f race.... :blink:

I've only ever been to Longchamp twice. Workforce's Arc and the day before. The contrast was stark in terms of attendance. Even Arc day was roomy compared to Cheltenham/Ascot/National/Derby days.

No ring just means there is little buzz. It definitely detracts from the atmosphere.
 
Aragorn said:
No ring just means there is little buzz. It definitely detracts from the atmosphere.
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Not sure I fully agree with this, the betting halls in big tote countries like Hong Kong, Japan and the bigger US meetings like the Breeders have a massive buzz about them.

Still not just reason to get rid of bookmakers for the aforementioned reasons that punters get screwed under a tote system.
 
No, the exchange model has proved it has failed. The liquidity levels are too low as the whales eat the minnows under an exchange model.

Even Betfair have abandoned the exchange, they try and drive everyone to the Sportsbook.
 
Gamla Stan said:
No, the exchange model has proved it has failed. The liquidity levels are too low as the whales eat the minnows under an exchange model.

Even Betfair have abandoned the exchange, they try and drive everyone to the Sportsbook.
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Not entirely convinced by that argument, GS, as 90% of punters probably aren't hugely affected by liquidity concerns (I tend only to get problems with my F1 bets on Betfair).

Frankly, if 'the industry' introduced an exchange with a c5% rake, I'd happily bet there over other bookmakers, armed with the knowledge that profits would go towards boosting prize-money, possibly reducing track addmission fees, and assisting welfare (jockeys, horses, whatever).
 
Aragorn said:
No ring just means there is little buzz. It definitely detracts from the atmosphere.
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There is a degree of truth in this as things stand. As GS says, though, in other countries where they have a big tote system there can still be a buzz. People make a buzz. I think there has to be an element of getting people in the gates to the best solution.

Perhaps my view is unrealistically utopian.

Does anyone know if Towcester's experiment with free entry was a success?
 
Towcester is my local track and somewhere I've been at least 20 times over the years. Terrific racecourse and always busy and lively. The track and racing are idiosyncratic and not exactly high grade but I always enjoy my visits.

Never been racing outside of the UK/France so can't comment on Hong Kong etc but I'm never a fan of something that encourages people to be inside and not watching the racing live. It's like going to a football game and watching from the bar, makes no sense to me! (Unless its absolutely p!issing it down but then I'd probably still be at home my way).
 
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