UK Betting - Are We Being Shafted?

I have been a fan of UK racing ever since it made its appearance on Tellytrack.

Despite the fact that the broadcaster never misses an opportunity to make the experience as unenjoyable and frustrating as possible with quarter screens, interrupted service etc., I soldier on simply because I find it far easier to interpret their form and enjoy the spectacle than that from ghastly centres such as Durbanville, Scottsville & the Vaal Sand Track.

But here's the thing - are we now been taken for a ride on the disseminated fixed odds prices?

When we first started getting UK racing it was almost uncanny how many favourites were priced up at 11/4. When last did you see 11/4 on our screens? 5/2 most certainly and often but no longer 11/4.

And every time the on course commentator mentions pricing there is almost ALWAYS a massive difference between the price quoted verbally and the advertised price on our screens. ( Yes - I understand that their observations are often based on one board etc ). A glance at Betfair will usually confirm significant differences but that's an altogether different debate as it effectively ignores the 'margin'.

I have no way of proving it but I suspect we are now being 'fed' local pricing not altogether an accurate measure of odds available.

The pricing on TT is always way out and not just for UK racing but for all including local. TT's disseminated pricing always seems to be over-rounded at 125% even just before the off. I think they do this so it can be a perfect comparative benchmark to the Tote at a 25% takeout on the on screen display.

Mac - I take your point but I am betting with Interbet and their pricing is coming from bookmakers' dissemination; which is much more 'accurate' (sic) than Tellytrack.

There definitely appears to be 'massaging' of on course pricing in favour of local oddslayers.

Local odds always shorter than the odds in the UK, then we pay 6% betting tax on winnings. The local bookies will say that the punters are always asking for a strech.

In my experience Sportingbet is usually very close to UK prices.... but have not been there lately.

I wonder why the local market is very "scared"? Perhaps we're scared of laying sneaky UK punters?. Doubt it though.