Tote Success: A Win for Greyhound Racing Punters

Greyhound Racing Ireland’s decision to maintain the reduced 12.5% Tote retention rate for Shelbourne Park’s Saturday night races through December and January has been a game-changer for regular bettors. This policy, first introduced during the Derby, has proven highly beneficial, enhancing liquidity in the win and place markets during its trial period.

The low retention rate has allowed punters to enjoy exceptional value, with most win dividends outperforming the official starting prices (SP). Unsurprisingly, with only 12.5% deducted from the pools, the returns have been consistently attractive.

Recent data highlights this advantage. On November 30th, eight out of eleven winners offered better payouts on the Tote. A €1 bet on each of the eleven winners would have yielded a profit of €71.90 compared to €49.92 at SP. The trend continued during the second night of the Winter Racing Festival, where eleven of twelve winners returned higher Tote prices. A €1 bet on all twelve winners would have resulted in a €41 profit via the Tote, compared to €28.18 at SP.

While on-course bookmakers remain the go-to option for larger wagers, the Tote provides greater flexibility for casual bettors. It’s worth noting that many winners may have been offered at higher prices by bookmakers at specific moments, but the consistency of better overall returns on the Tote is undeniable.

The strong performance of the Tote has likely boosted confidence among punters, suggesting that Saturday night turnover in the win and place pools will continue to rise. For those seeking value, the Tote is quickly becoming a standout choice.