How To Play The Percentages

How well do we know the commission take outs by the TABs for each of the bets types that we invest on? The TABs certainly don’t seem all that keen on focusing on their percentage take outs because only UBET list their deductions on their web site.

To find the NSW TAB’s commission deductions for their bet types you have to dig into the NSW Totalizator Betting Rules (2013) where on page 92 you’ll find them set out. Similarly, you’ll find the Victorian TAB’s commission deductions buried away on page 64 of the Victorian Totalizator Betting Rules (2012).

The TAB commission take outs for the various bet types are important figures because they ultimately determine how much there is left in the pools to be distributed to us in dividends. The commission deductions not only determine the TAB dividends, but now that corporate bookmakers offer dividends based on the totalizator payouts – their dividends as well.

The table below shows the commission deductions of the big three TABs for each bet type -

                      TAB Commission Deductions For Each Bet Type

The percentages highlighted in green are lower than their competitors’ deductions and they offer us real opportunities as punters. For example, with respect to quinellas, UBET’s take out is only 14.75% compared to 17.5% for the other TABs. With such a significant difference in the percentage deductions, over the long term any punter should get better returns by placing all his quinellas with UBET. The same applies to taking exactas and doubles with UBET. Similarly, the Victorian TAB has a lower percentage take out for trifectas than its rivals and taking all your trifectas with the Victorian TAB should also give better returns over the long term.  

                                       
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