Where are the old-style bookies who did their own form and would accordingly "let punters on" or would lay certain horses because, in their opinion, certain runners were a good risk?
They were form students but where is this breed now?
Invariably, on-course bookies will follow the opening tote price and they wonder why punters are deserting the tracks in droves!
Guess what....? If a punter considers that he can secure good value at the track then he/she will attend the races and hopefully pay for their day out. It amazes me that on-course bookies cannot grasp this simple truism.
The question then is: do on-course bookies deserve our sympathy for their ultimate decrease or even demise?
Or, more specifically, does their future lay in their own hands?
I am of the opinion that they have no-one else to blame but themselves, e.g. each way bookies rarely bet 1/4 odds for the place but rather, bet tote odds....we all know why!
Isn't the solution clear to see for these participants in the racing industry....it is to the rest of us.
So, please, no whinging about turnover tax and the like....if they wanted to give it a go, they may very well succeed in their business venture by offering attractive odds to on-course patrons.
Their future is in their own hands!
Any comments for or against?

Cheers.

Unlike a tote, a bookie is NOT GUARANTEED a profit on every race. Unlike a tote a bookie isn't allowed to lower the odds of your bet to GUARANTEE a profit from the race because more money has come for the horse.

That being the case, turnover tax is an absolute killer because the tax IS NOT based on profits.

Have a look at the bookie's odds for Melbourne and Sydney on Saturdays. In most races you can do better with the bookies unless you're speculating backing horses at $10.00 and longer odds.

Sure, your comments are noted with the appropriate understanding of the current situation.
However, shouldn't the entrepreneur 'think outside the square" to attract more clients and ensuing higher turnover?
With the current "party" atmosphere encouraged by our forward-thinking STC & AJC, shouldn't bookies try to encourage some of these party girls/boys to have a bet by initiating more exotic bets whereby they can win a "fortune" for a minimal outlay?
The scope of this is unlimited and I, personally, have numerous ideas how to increase turnover-but there is currently no incentive for me to disclose these thoughts.
Let's face it, the era of the hard-nosed grizzled punter is now gone, so, we have to adapt to the changing environment as we proceed into the future.

Cheers.

'The demise of the Bookie' is not the fault of the Bookie, but the punters who deserted them in increasing droves when the TAB opened for business.

Mostly, no longer can they lay a fair book because for them to do that they need punter volume which we increasingly denied them.

The pokie industry and sports betting lost them even more punters and the racetracks didn't help by jumping on that profit bandwagon, opening shop at the racetrack and competing for the race day betting dollar, which was once wagered with the bookie.

Most bookies are decent guys and mostly battlers too, with only a select few making big bucks.
Sure they realize they could compete with the tote by offering better or equal odds [their not idiots], but they also realize that because of the new punting paradigm above that now exists, seriously competing with the tote would put them in the dole queue quick smart !

Please stop it guys, I'm running out of hankies.

Aaah!.....we live in a cynical world!
crash-we are living in a world where technology and recreation and lifestyle choices are changing at an incredible rate. Therefore, to survive in the highly competitive world of wagering all participants must adapt to the changing environment. By doing this they may stay in touch and even manage to manipulate the odds in their favour.

Cheers.

If the bookies offered better than tote odds on a regular basis, punters would never have deserted them.

Greed killed them - just look at the 130% plus markets.

To stay alive in any industry, you have to be competitive with the opposition.

Instead they try to make a killing of the mugs, partygoers, spring carnivals.

Any astute punter will not be conned, so the greedy bookies never get regular business.

I'm not talking about all bookies, just the one's that take advantage and then cry because they have no turnover.

The same is happening with betting exchanges versus the TABs, punters see value elsewhere, so the TABs are left with the small time punters.
Instead of looking at the situation from a business perspective and offering a competitive product, they reduce services and increase takeout.

It is not good business practice.

I'm guessing that any increase in TAB turnover comes from those who have laid horses on betting exchanges

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You make some good points CP.
I believe that the on-course bookies hold their destiny in their own hands.
If they are unwilling to adapt to the changing environment they will soon be left behind or even facing extinction.

Cheers.

xanadu,

have to disagree with you there.

oncourse bookmakers cannot compete with the online corporate bookies any more.they are too restricted by out of date laws.at the ajc wagering forum recently,con kafataris stated that he is losing business hand over foot because once he leaves the course he is not allowed to take a bet.so if he has a regular client who has had a winning day and wants to bet on the trots,greyhounds etc.he cannot take a bet.it is fairly obvious to me that the powers that be don't give a stuff about oncourse bookies,all they want is an amalgamated national TAB which they can ride roughshod over and make megabucks out of.

God help us if that ever eventuates.

That may well be the case in NSW/Qld but not Victoria as they commenced their bookies on line service this week.

There are a number of bookies involved offering a wide range of services from racing to sports.