Parimutuel Betting

Parimutuel betting also known as pool , tote or totalizer betting is when all bettors put their money into a communal pool and this gets distributed to the winner(s) after a take out from the event organizer and local taxes. The types of pools in HKJC and JRA meetings are listed below.

Hong Kong Parimutuel Pools (Type - Description - Payout as % of pool)

• Single-Race:

  • Win - 1st in a race - 82.5%

  • Place - 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a race* - 82.5%

  • Quinella - 1st and 2nd in any order in a race - 82.5%

  • Quinella Place - Any two of the first three placed horse in any order in a race - 82.5%

  • Forecast - 1st and 2nd in correct order in a race - 80.5%

  • Tierce - 1st, 2nd and 3rd in correct order in a race - 75%

  • Trio - 1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in a race - 77%

  • Quartet - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in correct order in a race - 75%

  • First 4 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in any order in a race - 75%

• Multi-race Pools:

  • Double - 1st in each of the two nominated races* - 82.5%

  • Treble - 1st in each of the three nominated races* - 75%

• Jackpot Pools

  • Double Trio - 1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in each of the two nominated races - 75%

  • Triple Trio - 1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in each of the three nominated races - 75%

  • Six Up - 1st or 2nd in each of the six nominated races - 75%

• * For consolations or variations based on field sizes see the following link:

  • https://special.hkjc.com/e-win/en-US/betting-info/racing/beginners-guide/local-pools/

JRA Parimutuel Pools:

• Single-Race:

  • Win - 1st in a race - 80%

  • Show- 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a race* - 80%

  • Bracket Quinella - Select two brackets to finish 1st and 2nd in any order in a race - 77.5%

  • Quinella - 1st and 2nd in any order in a race - 77.5%

  • Quinella Place - Any two of the first three placed horse in any order in a race - 75%

  • Exacta - 1st and 2nd in correct order in a race - 75%

  • Trio - 1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order in a race - 75%

  • Trifecta - 1st, 2nd and 3rd in correct order in a race - 72.5%

• Multi-Race Pools:

  • WIN5 - Pick 1st in the five designated races - 70%

• * For variations and more information see:

  • https://jra.jp/kouza/baken/index.html#rate_list

It should be noted that given the percentage of the pool being taken out. This makes it very difficult to win long term. Because your edge will have to be between 121% to 143% just to break-even*.

* Calculated by using (100%/82.5%) = 121.21% and (100%/ 70%) = 142.85%