A US racetrack will close betting into its win pools at two minutes before the advertised start time of each race in a bid to curb the impact of sophisticated professionals using computer-assisted wagering (CAW) methods.
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (DMTC) officials said the new measure was a response to multiple late odds changes during the first week of racing at the racecourse's summer season.
“This is part of an overall effort to ensure an optimal wagering experience for fans on-track, at simulcast locations and those playing via our advanced deposit wagering partners,” DMTC president Josh Rubinstein said.
“We had taken steps to encourage CAW players to process their win wagers earlier in the cycle, but it has become clear that we need to take additional measures.
“We will continue to do our best to create a racing and wagering product that appeals to all segments of the horseplayer market.”
The move will come into effect from its meeting on Thursday (Pacific Daylight Time).
Automated betting has been a source of much debate in the US. It is estimated to account for between $US2 billion and $US3 billion in wagering investment out of an annual hold of more than $US11 billion.
US wagering industry insiders say there are up to 12 professional punters and syndicates using algorithms that can process vast amounts of data in seconds to place bets.
