Proof of its popularity,
Face Time Bourbon
had the privilege, last February, to receive the visit of Clémence Botino.
Like Miss France, the 5-year-old trotter is unanimous in the hearts of punters.
And for good reason, the champion of Stéphane Guarato reaches his target at each of his outings, or almost.
His 25 victories and 4 second places in thirty races explain the almost blind enthusiasm of the racers who praise him.
90% of their bets, in single placed, bear the name, or rather the number, of the record holder of the Vincennes track.
A thousand miles from these considerations, the beautiful bay could end up costing PMU dearly.
The leading European operator monitors each of the races of the last winner of the Prix d'Amérique, and favorite to his own succession.
When
Face Time Bourbon
wins, so to speak always, the winnings paid to its takers may exceed the stakes (see box).
A priori, not really the goal sought by a games company.
More profitable than a bank investment
Once again announced as the favorite of the Prix Marcel Laurent (2:25 p.m. at Vincennes),
Face Time Bourbon
should confirm the loyalty of its followers.
And attract the matelassiers, those players who commit large sums, sometimes tens of thousands of euros, on very low risk bets.
Despite the hope of minimal gain, for the basic stake of one euro, the investment remains much more profitable than any bank investment.
A place in the top three, in a race of barely three minutes, ensures a return of 10%.
The results have not gone unnoticed on social networks.
“He's no longer a squirrel, but a golden boy,” we can read on Twitter.
This profitability is only valid by the will of PMU.
The company with 9 billion euros in turnover has chosen, during the last two victorious outings of the exceptional trotter, to pay, at a loss for itself, the earnings of its customers.
While its regulations allow it in such a case to reimburse the stakes.
Will playing the card of seduction rather than that of frustration still be in the PMU this November 12?
Cyril Linette, its managing director, was already wondering last September 29, during a press conference.
“We don't want to penalize our customers, so we show empathy.
I have the feeling that this kind of experience happens more often than before.
We must therefore think about better protection without impacting our customers.
"
The risk of weakening an already lame industry
In the case of
Face Time Bourbon
, “it is a very exceptional commercial gesture, which has a cost, we recognize on the side of the operator.
But, in the longer term, it bears fruit ”through customer loyalty.
However, PMU's room for maneuver is relatively small.
If other events with a less predictable outcome allow it to "recover", the rate of return to players - incompressible - of 85% minimizes the benefits.
The operator's only room for maneuver, to perpetuate this favor, would consist in reducing the contribution it pays to parent companies, France Galop and LeTrot, after having paid the taxes due to the State.
With the obvious risk of weakening an already lame industry.
It is therefore piecemeal that the PMU makes the decision to please, or not, the customers "after having evaluated the economic impact that this may have", we specify and add "for
Face Time Bourbon
, Thursday at Vincennes, it is likely that the choice of payment will be retained.
The PMU will then have to break the bank, in the eventual arrival of the big favorite, or even go much deeper, if
Gu d'Héripré
and
Fairplay d'Urzy
, the other two class horses of the lot, were his immediate following.
The presence of the partners of Franck Nivard and Jean-Michel Bazire on the podium would then explode the payment counter.
Showing empathy is commendable, but how far can PMU get its hands on it?
Explanation in figures with the last two races of Face Time Bourbon
On September 12 in the Prix de l'Étoile in Vincennes, the stakes in the Single game placed in the points of sale amounted to € 1,272,959.05, of which more than 93% were committed on
Face Time Bourbon
.
By choosing to pay the places of the first three, including the favorite, at 1.10 €, the PMU had to pay 1,314,323, 31 €.
The commercial gesture amounts to more than 41,000 €, without counting the online stakes which generated a “loss” of 23,770 €.
On October 5 in Naples (Italy), the stakes for the single placed, only online this time, still for the Single placed, of € 368,263 for € 401,760 in earnings paid after the second place of the beautiful but expensive showcase of the PMU .
