Friday, 14 December 2007: The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities has made further progress in its initiative to facilitate global commingling between authorized tote companies.
In two meetings last week in Tucson, Arizone, tote companies from around the world – half of which IFHA member - discussed the way forward on both technical and commercial matters.
On 3 December, IFHA hosted a meeting with those US tote service companies that developed the communications technology used by all pari-mutuels around the world.
The meeting was a component of the ongoing program to remove technical obstacles for cross border pari-mutuel wagering (commingling) and to promote common global standards and practices.
The relevant conclusions of the meeting for IFHA members:-
· A standard protocol will be developed for testing intra-tote connectivity;·
* Tote companies around the world are invited to submit comments and suggestions for amendments to the new Inter Tote Systems Protocol (ITSP);
· Organizations that wish to participate at the Global Trifecta bets will receive ad-hoc assistance
We take the opportunity to emphasize again that substantial resources and planning is required to participate at commingling with foreign totes, such as in the case with the Global Trifecta's.
On 6 December, the marketing directors of some of the largest totes around the world gathered to discuss the racing events for the Global Trifectas in 2008 and the launch of a global super bet.
The aim of the latter is to create a bet with a single pool and a super jackpot.
This will create a unique selling proposition: the prospect of life changing dividends for winning bettors.
The dates of the next Global Trifectas will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
IFHA
