{"id":70519,"date":"2018-02-19T12:00:33","date_gmt":"2018-02-19T20:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=70519"},"modified":"2018-02-19T13:29:58","modified_gmt":"2018-02-19T21:29:58","slug":"uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Race Track Bookies Conspire to Rip Off Bettors, Says Whistle Blower"},"content":{"rendered":"

On-track bookies in the UK<\/a> regularly collude to increase the vigorish at events they expect to be largely attended by inexperienced gamblers. That\u2019s according to one on-track bookmaker, who admits he has taken part in such activity in the past but now \u201cdeplores\u201d the practise.<\/p>\n

\"Andy
Andy Smith of Festival Racing claims that collusion among on-track bookmakers is becoming more common. Bookies will regularly offer poor prices on events where they expect a large number of clueless bettors to gather. (Image: Edward Whitaker\/Racing Post)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Andy Smith, who takes bets as \u2018Festival Racing,\u2019 told The Guardian<\/em><\/a> newspaper that bookmakers often agree before the racing begins to price up their books in a way that will leave more naive customers short-changed.<\/p>\n

His comments came in the wake of a report by the Horseracing Bettors Forum that found particularly bad odds had been offered at the Welsh racetrack Ffos Las at an event marketed as \u201cLadies Day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cooking the Books<\/strong><\/h2>\n

While it\u2019s generally accepted by bettors that all bookmakers give themselves a mathematical edge when they price up their books, some edges are greater than others.<\/p>\n

In fixed-odds bookmaking, the sum of the probabilities quoted for any given race will always exceed 100 percent. Everything over the 100 percent mark equates to the bookmaker\u2019s theoretical profit.<\/p>\n

Normally, they can\u2019t get too greedy because experienced gamblers will do the math, realize they\u2019re getting a raw deal and move on. In a competitive betting market, the margin should be under 2 percent for each runner, but it appears the bookies at Ffos Las felt that the Ladies Day attendees might be not be so perceptive.<\/p>\n

Practise Widespread<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cBecause there\u2019s not many bookies,\u201d Smith said, \u201cit was easy to arrange, let\u2019s think of a word for it \u2026 a cartel. A bookie would come and ask you, one of the other bookies. They might say, we\u2019ll do 3 percent the first couple of races, then we\u2019re betting 4 percent.<\/p>\n

You might not believe this, but this is not a thing that happens only at Ffos Las. It\u2019s happening more and more.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Smith says that collusion is more likely to be found in \u201csatellite\u201d betting spots, away from the main betting area.<\/p>\n

Mark Kershaw, director at Ffos Las, told The Guardian<\/em> he was \u201cdisappointed\u201d in the bookmakers at his racetrack.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try hard to get the racegoers there and it needs everybody at the racecourse to pull together to make sure they want to come back again and have a good experience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was a day when there was a holiday crowd and they thought: \u2018We can take advantage,\u2019 but that\u2019s completely wrong. What we want is that holiday crowd to want to come back again. It shouldn\u2019t be an opportunity to short-change them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On-track bookies in the UK regularly collude to increase the vigorish at events they expect to be largely attended by inexperienced gamblers. That\u2019s according to one on-track bookmaker, who admits he has taken part in such activity in the past but now \u201cdeplores\u201d the practise. Andy Smith, who takes bets as \u2018Festival Racing,\u2019 told The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":70527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,14577],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUK On-track Bookies Conspire to Rip Off Bettors, Says Whistle Blower<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On-track bookies agree to skew their odds to boost profits at events where a large number of inexperienced gamblers are likely to attend, such as 'Ladies Day.'\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UK On-track Bookies Conspire to Rip Off Bettors, Says Whistle Blower\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On-track bookies agree to skew their odds to boost profits at events where a large number of inexperienced gamblers are likely to attend, such as 'Ladies Day.'\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Casino.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Casino.OrgNews\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-02-19T20:00:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2018-02-19T21:29:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/andy-smith.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Casino.org Staff Writer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Casino_Org\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Casino_Org\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Casino.org Staff Writer\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/\",\"name\":\"UK On-track Bookies Conspire to Rip Off Bettors, Says Whistle Blower\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/andy-smith.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2018-02-19T20:00:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2018-02-19T21:29:58+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8c48bf89dc86da77b4d856c7b3b78d77\"},\"description\":\"On-track bookies agree to skew their odds to boost profits at events where a large number of inexperienced gamblers are likely to attend, such as 'Ladies Day.'\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/andy-smith.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/andy-smith.jpeg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":720,\"caption\":\"Andy Smith of Festival Racing claims that collusion among on-track bookmakers is becoming more common. Bookies will regularly offer poor prices on events where they expect a large number of clueless bettors will gather. (Image: Edward Whitaker\/Racing Post)\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Sports Betting\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/sportsbetting\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Horse Racing\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/sportsbetting\/horse-racing\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"UK Race Track Bookies Conspire to Rip Off Bettors, Says Whistle Blower\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/\",\"name\":\"Casino.org\",\"description\":\"Latest Casino and Gaming News\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8c48bf89dc86da77b4d856c7b3b78d77\",\"name\":\"Casino.org Staff Writer\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0853bd574da5b217483afb1fbbee33a5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0853bd574da5b217483afb1fbbee33a5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Casino.org Staff Writer\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/author\/corg-staff-writer\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"UK On-track Bookies Conspire to Rip Off Bettors, Says Whistle Blower","description":"On-track bookies agree to skew their odds to boost profits at events where a large number of inexperienced gamblers are likely to attend, such as 'Ladies Day.'","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"UK On-track Bookies Conspire to Rip Off Bettors, Says Whistle Blower","og_description":"On-track bookies agree to skew their odds to boost profits at events where a large number of inexperienced gamblers are likely to attend, such as 'Ladies Day.'","og_url":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/","og_site_name":"Casino.org","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Casino.OrgNews","article_published_time":"2018-02-19T20:00:33+00:00","article_modified_time":"2018-02-19T21:29:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/andy-smith.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Casino.org Staff Writer","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@Casino_Org","twitter_site":"@Casino_Org","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Casino.org Staff Writer","Est. reading time":"2 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/","url":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/","name":"UK On-track Bookies Conspire to Rip Off Bettors, Says Whistle Blower","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/andy-smith.jpeg","datePublished":"2018-02-19T20:00:33+00:00","dateModified":"2018-02-19T21:29:58+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8c48bf89dc86da77b4d856c7b3b78d77"},"description":"On-track bookies agree to skew their odds to boost profits at events where a large number of inexperienced gamblers are likely to attend, such as 'Ladies Day.'","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/andy-smith.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/andy-smith.jpeg","width":1280,"height":720,"caption":"Andy Smith of Festival Racing claims that collusion among on-track bookmakers is becoming more common. Bookies will regularly offer poor prices on events where they expect a large number of clueless bettors will gather. (Image: Edward Whitaker\/Racing Post)"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/uk-race-track-bookies-rip-off-bettors\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Sports Betting","item":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/sportsbetting\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Horse Racing","item":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/sportsbetting\/horse-racing\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"UK Race Track Bookies Conspire to Rip Off Bettors, Says Whistle Blower"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/","name":"Casino.org","description":"Latest Casino and Gaming News","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8c48bf89dc86da77b4d856c7b3b78d77","name":"Casino.org Staff Writer","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0853bd574da5b217483afb1fbbee33a5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0853bd574da5b217483afb1fbbee33a5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Casino.org Staff Writer"},"url":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/author\/corg-staff-writer\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70519"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70519"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70519\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}