Overview
Phumelela Gold Enterprises (PGE) is a joint venture between South African horseracing and tote betting operators Phumelela and Gold Circle.
PGE is managed by Phumelela and owns the domestic and international broadcast and information rights to South African horseracing. PGE also sets fixtures for all South African racecourses and owns and manages Tellytrack, South Africa’s domestic horseracing TV channel.
PGE has acquired the worldwide betting-related broadcast rights to 30 of the UK’s 60 racecourses (the Racing UK rights), including nine of the 12 "Super" tracks from Racing UK (RUK).
RUK represents the interests of the 30 racecourses, which stage nearly 700 race meetings annually, and also operates a highly successful subscription television channel in the UK and Ireland on behalf of them. RUK has also developed web and 3G streaming capabilities.
PGE, in partnership with Racing UK and the UK tote (Totesport), offers a daily racing-betting package to the global market on South African-based TV channel Racing International, which is beamed via satellite across six continents.
Racing International combines the best of UK and South African racing and the live TV coverage is accompanied by a full information service. Bets taken anywhere in the world can be commingled through Phumelela’s Amtote betting system into existing UK and SA tote pools.
Racing International is already enjoyed by many horseplayers in the world and PGE aims to work with other licensed horseracing jurisdiction across the globe for the benefit of horseracing in general and owners, trainers, breeders, and the betting public in particular.
PGE has satellite capacity over four-fifths of the globe and its ultimate goal is to provide live horseracing round the clock on Racing International. Consequently, PGE welcomes product in different time zones to the live racing currently televised on Racing International.
Racing International
The best UK and SA racing daily:
- Up to six UK race meetings and one SA race meeting every day.
- Live TV coverage
- Full information service including live odds
- Full commingling capability into SA and UK pools
- Web streaming and 3G
- Mandated to provide Racing International to tote and fixed-odds operators, racecourses, casinos and internet sites
The Racing International racing-betting package provides horseracing and betting operators with an ideal opportunity to enhance betting turnover and revenue. It expands both the opportunities to bet provided to customers and the time frame in which betting is offered.
One South African race meeting is screened on Racing International every day and as many as six UK race meetings. In the event of a clash, UK racing is given priority. Generally, there are fewer British race meetings during the European winter, when UK product usually comprises jump race meetings.
From time to time top international events like the Dubai International Racing Carnival are combined with South African and UK races on Racing International.
Live Racing on Racing International usually commences at about 11:00 GMT (07:00 EST) and ends at 16:00 GMT (12:00 EST). The times vary according to the season, being earlier in winter and later in summer.
Currently South African night racing is available on some 25 Fridays and Saturdays usually from about 16:00 GMT (12:00 EST) to 20:00 (16:00 EST). Additional night racing, staged at Turffontein which is Phumelela's flagship racecourse, will be available towards the end of 2009. UK night racing is available on varying days.
Information
Full racecard information for all races screened on Racing International can be supplied in a variety of pdf formats or as text or XML extracts by Phumelela Publishing. Extracts and pdfs can be tailored to specified formats.
Racecards for South African race meetings are available three days beforehand. UK racecards for Flat racemeetings are available 48 hours before the event and UK racecards for Jump races 24 hours beforehand.
Real-time raceday information is supplied in a XML feed.
Commingling
Commingling is a key element of the Racing International service because horseplayers wagering on Racing International races can bet into established tote pools. US$650 million is wagered on the tote on horseracing annually in SA and a further US$470 million on the UK tote.
PGE has extensive bi-directional multi-currency commingling expertise and commingled internationally for the first time on the 2002 Breeders’ Cup with bets in South Africa being transmitted instantly to USA pools.
In November 2003 the USA began commingling into South African tote pools for Tuesday night race meetings in South Africa. Racing on Tuesday nights in South Africa will resume once the installation of lights at Turffontein Racecourse is completed.
In November 2004 PGE commenced commingling bets on UK racing in South Africa into UK tote pools daily. During May 2005 the USA and Holland also began commingling into these pools through Phumelela’s Amtote system in South Africa.
PGE has officially hosted the global tote betting pools on the Dubai International Racing Carnival since 2004 . In 2008 a total of 54 independent tote hubs in the USA, Canada, Holland, Germany, The Isle Of Man, Ireland, Brazil, Barbados, Kenya and Trinidad commingled Win, Place, Swinger, Exacta, Trifecta, Quartet and Pick 3 tote bets on the Dubai World Cup meeting into betting pools hosted on Phumelela's Amtote system. More than 400 tote outlets in South Africa also bet on the meeting.
Technology
Phumelela regularly upgrades its Amtote wagering system and currently operates version 12.6. The system has net pool pricing functionality and multi-currency conversion capabilities.
Commingling is currently undertaken using ITSP version 5.18/5.19, which includes scan type bets such as the pick "n" bet types. This version allows commingling with versions 5.14 and 5.16.
XML commingling solutions are also available that will allow third-party betting systems to commingle with the Amtote system.
Relatively cheap gateway systems are available to allow operators without access to tote systems to bet directly into PGE’s Amtote system using the VPN communication method.
PGE also holds a tote licence on the Isle of Man, where it has access to an equivalent Amtote system. Excellent communications exist on the island and its banking sector is well regulated, making it a perfect alternative to Phumelela’s South African hub.
Quality
The horseracing action on Racing International is of the highest quality and combines the cream of British and South African horseracing.
Over 100 Group races in the UK are televised live on Racing International annually, including a host of famous horseracing events. These comprise the likes of 4 English classics (the 1000 and 2000 Guineas and the Derby and Oaks), the Vodafone Coronation Cup, the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, the Darley July Cup, the Sussex Stakes, the Juddmonte International Stakes, the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup and the Racing Post Trophy.
Famous UK racing festivals like Glorious Goodwood (a five-day meeting combining top racing, beautiful scenery and a marvellous atmosphere) and the Ebor Festival at York ("The Ascot of the North") are also shown live.
UK jump racing screened on Racing International during the English winter includes the Grand National at Aintree and the Cheltenham Festival.
Over 100 Graded and Listed races are run in South Africa each year and these events are also screened live on Racing International. They include the SA Classic (Africa's richest race for three year olds) and the Steinhoff International Summer Cup in Johannesburg, the Vodacom Durban July in Durban and the J & B Met in Cape Town.
Contact Details
Mr John Stuart
Phumelela Gaming & Leisure
e-mail – johns@phumelela.com
Tel: 2711 681 1709
Mobile: 2782 3399 366
Fax: 2711 681 1718