BETTING AT EGYPT'S RACES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13622, 21 April 1942, Page 2

BETTING AT EGYPT'S RACES

NOVEL SYSTEMS IX VOGUE

BOOKMAKERS BARRED

(X.Z.E.F. Official News Service) Cairo, Feb. 14

New Zealanders who have attended race-meetings in Egypt have been greatly interested in the novel betting systems. Making for both cheapness and variety for the investor, these appealing gambling devices cater for all classes of patrons. Lowest bet is two shillings, and dividends are paid on that basis. Popular bet is four shillings. On the other hand bets can be made on the totalisator up to £5.

Betting is win and place on the main tote, but besides there are such varieties as twin totes, doubles and parolis( the picking of winners in a series of races). All these are run separately. First is the pari mutuel. which is the counterpart of the usual

win and place machine. Then there is the twin tote, the double tote and the parolis. The result is that no totalisator affects the pay-out of another, dividends being computed on the basis of tickets invested on each machine. On he pari mutuel dividends are generally rather* modest, seldom there being anything more than ten to one for a win and five to one for a place, the reason being the usually small fields. In no case is the sum returned on a winning ticket less than that invested. The lucky investor who strikes a win on the twin, double or parolis machine is in most cases assured of a handsome return. i Bookmakers are not allowed on the courses. For investors who do not attend the course there is a pari mutuel establishment in the city. Situated at the corner of two back streets in the business area, this public totalisator on a race day is the scene of a milling throng of people of all nationalities, noisily talking and pushing and peering wherever the results are chalked up. From above it is a mass of waving red tarboushes. For a car to attempt to pick its way through this jostling crowd is • almost hopeless, although some fairly brave drivers successfully manage it.

Prices paid in the city correspond with those returned at the course. Conversely the number of tickets taken on each horse in the city is telephoned through to the course and affects the dividend there. This number is also chalked up at the course a few minutes prior to the closing down of the totalisator for the information of investors.