Unresponsive system cause of late closure of pools

TAB MEDIA RELEASE
SUBJECT: Unresponsive system cause of late closure of pools
DATE: Friday 10 September 2021
RELEASED BY: Phumelela Gaming

Analysis of the computer logs has identified that the failure to close TAB betting pools timeously for Race 1 at Scottsville last Sunday came about because the betting system became unresponsive just before the start of the race.
Consequently, tote operations staff could not close Race 1 pools and only succeeded in doing so some five minutes after the start, resulting in a significant number of bets being placed after the race had been run.
Due to that and other software issues arising from the system’s unresponsiveness, it was decided to follow standard international practice in such instances and all bets on the race were refunded with the field applying in multi-race bets.
TAB apologises to all customers who had winning bets on the race and is well aware that refunding bets was a totally unsatisfactory outcome for them. Unfortunately, however, it was the most practical course of action in the circumstances at the time.
All relevant computer logs were sent to USA tote betting system company AmTote International in order to determine the root cause of the system malfunction, which has never been experienced previously by TAB.
AmTote has not yet completed its analysis of the logs, but has indicated that similar instances of unresponsiveness, while extremely rare, have been known to happen.

Thank you for reply.

However would it not have been easier just to void tickets taken after the off time, payout as normal, then investigate the terminals and people that took punts after the off?

It has been accepted in the past to void tickets before /or just after the off.
There is a time delay as commingled bets are added to the pool leading to tote adjusting whilst horses are running.

Who would know that the system was not closed and continued to take bets.?

What was the magnitude of punts taken after the off ?

Good Punting

Sure the Australians had issues lately, think they also use amtote?

Yet another example that the leadership in all horse racing structures needs an overhaul, this communication is actually a disgrace.

Just a few points that should accompany this communication;
1. Value of bets placed in total on the race?
2. Value of bets placed after the off and were they concentrated in any particular area?
3. Value of bets placed in cash at terminals?
4. Value of tickets not claimed once the result was posted?
5. What happens to those funds once the time period to claim has elapsed?
6. Are these funds allocated to a P6 carryover pot or just allocated to a mystery account on the balance sheet?
7. What was the breakdown of tickets not cashed, i.e. Win/Place/Swinger/Exacta, surely the funds should be allocated to those pools and will they be subject to a second reduction?
8. How many times has this happened in the last 24 months?

Whenever there is an opportunity to grow confidence with customers the structures in racing take it as an opportunity confirm their incapacity by releasing communication not worthy of a Grade 10 project submission.