Tab & Tellytrack

LSU wrote: P have many things that need fixing but there are also a large number of things that they are doing right.

Most of the complaints on this forum are legit but the reality is that local racing is not a money spinner outside of the broadcasting revenue associated with it.

A budget with income of R20 and expenses of R30 cannot be balanced by anyone, no matter how savvy you are financially. Two options, increase revenue or cut expenses, or both.

This is the reality that face racing and we all know how well the industry is doing with growing the customer base. Under these circumstances something will suffer and unfortunately it's the local product via the service experience.

The only lasting solution is getting more customers but given the historical performance it is seen to be throwing good money after bad.

Believe me I don't envy P and GC because it is tough going to make it all work whilst still having to produce the goods for shareholders.

LSU,I think you are absolutely right but the problems that you identify are no different to any other business and the one thing that is real (as opposed to the R20/R30 example) is that the income of racing is massive and certainly achieves that one very vital ingredient, without which profitability is impossible...............critical mass.
Further increase is always desirable and necessary for many reasons ,but as long as critical mass is being achieved, profit is determined by only one factor...... management of expenses.
It appears to be one of quite a few areas where management seems to be lacking, as you have to wonder how carefully the non- variable expenses are measured against direct returns. We see ,what appears to be, a lot of money spent on nice to haves(as opposed to need to haves), that don't directly increase revenue, and these should,ideally,be curtailed, or preferably eliminated, as this is very basic to austere financial management.
(we can also only estimate how much is being wasted on things like failed litigation, but we know that the number is huge!)

durbs wrote: The tote couldn't care less because whatever the result they cannot lose.They take their 25% or whatever it is and that's it.Bookies stand a chance of losing a lot if big bets are placed and they come in.

Hence the introduction of limits..... simple fact is if you are a consistent winner or even as was the case with Solotrama and myself if your horse shortens in the betting they reserve the right to limit or close your account...so enjoy the fantastic service offered up by your bookie but mind you don't win as that quite clearly will led to the demise of your happy association...

Well put Rob

Just to add to what Rob said.

Once critical mass is reached it becomes an exercise in controlling expenses to maximise returns and this has been done quite well.

If capacity building is neglected though (in this instance new customer providing long term revenue) it will come back to bite like we are seeing with Eskom and similarly in not doing maintenance which can be equated to looking after existing customers.

The current model have numerous shortcomings that will be increasingly exposed the longer the customer base remains static or in decline.

Bob Brogan wrote:

Titch wrote:

Sealegs wrote: Tab website down, cannot bet
Tellytrack live audio is playing a TV channel audio track

Am off to the Casino

call centers were up and running all day...

Titch it`s not always possible to use the phone!

Just FYI, I was in Swakopmund ,Namibia(what an awesome place!!) and it was not easy/cheap to call ...I did have wifi and lots of spare time and was really pissed off at not being able to bet nor listen to TT on my PC.

Sealegs the Racing Association site was up all day.. I watched during a Power Outage

I had a most profitable time and experience with the TAB NORTHWEST AGENCY when they were in operation.

Winnings were promptly transferred to your bank a/c and deposits cleared in good time.

Pity they were terminated.

mikesack wrote: I had a most profitable time and experience with the TAB NORTHWEST AGENCY when they were in operation.

Winnings were promptly transferred to your bank a/c and deposits cleared in good time.

Pity they were terminated.

I had a very nice win with them some years back and can remember going to their offices in Pretoria to collect, was with my great friend now sadly departed Terrence Kershner he liked 2 horses on the day as did I and they all won landing us a healthy yankee..The service that they provided was really top class...