A day or so, some might have considered it April Fool's Day.
The minimum ratio of Single Placed and e-Simple Placed bets will now be paid 1.05 euros against 1.10 euros currently, for 1 euro played, without changing the rounding rules, as of Wednesday March 31st.
According to the PMU, "this development aims, in the interest of all, to reduce behavior contrary to the spirit of pari-mutuel, while preserving the rates of player returns which remain unchanged".
READ ALSO>
Hippisme: Face Time Bourbon, the champion who costs PMU dearly
“On a very limited number of French or foreign races featuring an ultra-favorite horse, the PMU has observed for several months the strong growth of opportunistic behavior on the part of a very small minority of punters, who systematically bet very high stakes in Simple Placed on this favorite, ”said Emmanuelle Malecaze-Doublet, PMU's marketing, e-commerce and international director in a press release.
While specifying: “This only concerns about 2% of races.
This behavior is contrary to the principle of sagacity which drives the riders and therefore becomes an
irritating
factor
for them.
It causes, for the players, a strong reduction in the ratios of the other placed horses.
For PMU, this is a fair decision but also a sound management decision, in line with the practices of other major pari-mutuel operators around the world.
"
The association of Turfists requests reimbursement
The national association of Turfists has taken note of this reform.
Founder and president of the ANT since its creation in 1996, Eric Hintermann recalls, according to him, that “the PMU has created a gigantic call for air in the direction of big players (matelassiers, professional players or big international bettors) by guaranteeing the payment of hyper favorites instead at the minimum rate of 1.10 euros.
"
"Even if it is revised downwards by 0.05 euros, the big bettors will continue to bet sums never seen before instead, including on the Internet where until now they did not come", considers t -he.
And to continue: “Previously, when there was too much money played on a single horse to pay the winnings, the PMU reimbursed.
He sometimes made a
commercial gesture
and paid by taking the money in
rounded cents
.
But it was still exceptional and the big players limited their bets on their own to avoid having the choice between losing or being reimbursed.
"
“More and more often, mainly in small races abroad with few starters, they bet increasingly colossal sums instead on a single horse, insists Eric Hintermann.
There are plenty of examples, as was the case on February 23 in Mons (Belgium) with
814,363
euros entered on
Himeros du Goutier
and the next day in Straubing (Germany) with 766,950 euros played on
Canyon Castelets
in the 2nd race at 10:20 am!
The National Association of Turfists is campaigning for the pari-mutuel to be fully restored.
The national association of Turfists, chaired by Eric Hintermann (on the left), is campaigning for the mutual bet to be fully restored.
Scoopdyga / VD
A big bettor, on condition of anonymity, does not hide his dissatisfaction with this reform either: “For several years, the big bettors were pampered by the PMU.
I received many invitations to go to the boxes of the Stade de France, the AccorHotels Arena, not to mention the many trips to attend various sporting events abroad.
With more than 250,000 euros wagered annually, I was regularly pampered by the first betting operator, like some of my acquaintances who have the ability to bet much more (according to our information, nearly fifty turf riders have the financial capacity to play 1 million euros per year).
"
Morning essentials newsletter
A tour of the news to start the day
Subscribe to the newsletterAll newsletters
Before dotting the “i's” on certain received ideas: “All these privileges are a thing of the past.
From now on, the big bettors are considered as plague victims whereas I can certify to you that it is necessary to have a strong heart to bet such sums.
Yes, I admit to having committed on several occasions between 5 and 35,000 euros placed this winter on
Face Time Bourbon
.
I took a risk, admittedly calculated, but I maintain that every risk must be paid for in life.
It has happened to me to bet on a big favorite at 1.10 euro and that this one finishes 4th.
This obviously made the happiness of small bettors who have this incredible chance to hit exorbitant returns instead.
And there, nobody came to complain… ”
