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41-611: The Totalisator Agency Board , universally shortened to TAB or T.A.B. , is the name given to monopoly totalisator organisations in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. They operate betting shops and online betting . They were originally government owned, but in Australia most have been privatised. In Victoria, for instance, the Victorian Totalisator Agency Board began operating in March 1961 as

82-571: A racing television network in Sky Racing ; originally acquired by the New South Wales TAB in 1998. This was originally provided (as Sky Channel ) to hotels and clubs via satellite, later extending to home subscription TV platforms such as Foxtel , and eventually expanded to two channels to accommodate an increased racing schedule. Sky Racing shows virtually all racing coverage covered by TAB tote markets, although some of this content

123-589: A random drawn greyhound – permitted effective 1 August 1972, eventually leading to off-course TAB coverage in 1981. At times the government entity operating the TAB has also regulated the racing codes, such as the 2003 introduction of the New Zealand Racing Board . Following reforms to the operation of the racing industry in New Zealand in 2020, the organisation - now relieved of its regulation of

164-689: A result of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa , however officially continued to operate the TAB while under bankruptcy supervision, until 4Racing was granted operating licences from the Gauteng Gambling Board in November 2021. These services generally provide totalisator bets on both horse racing and football , as well as fixed-odds sports betting and online casino games. In KwaZulu-Natal, "TAB" has latterly been backronymed for

205-670: A single channel via UHF television - a method also used to broadcast the initial (pre-satellite) incarnation of New Zealand's Sky . However, unlike Sky's channel, Trackside was screened "in the clear" - meaning most New Zealanders could sit at their TV with a standard UHF aerial and watch racing. Since the wind-down and closure of the Sky UHF service, TAB Trackside on conventional television has now been limited to subscription platforms, originally via Sky (including Sky TV services formerly delivered through TelstraClear / Vodafone -owned Hybrid fibre cable in certain cities), and more recently also via

246-846: A state enterprise, and was privatised in 1994. Originally having been run as state government agencies, most Australian TABs have been progressively privatised, beginning with Victoria in 1994 (becoming Tabcorp ), and following with New South Wales in 1998 (becoming Tab Limited ) and Queensland in 1999 (becoming TAB Queensland Limited ). TAB Queensland later purchased the Northern Territory and South Australian TABs from their respective governments, becoming UniTAB Limited . Tabcorp and Tab Limited merged in 2004, followed by UniTAB merging with lotteries operator Tattersall's (to become Tatts Group ) in 2006. Tatts Group later purchased TOTE Tasmania in 2011 while Tabcorp bought ACT TAB in 2014, both from their respective governments. This leaves

287-610: Is a device to add up the bets in a pari-mutuel betting system. The whole of the pot (the stakes on all competitors) is divided pro rata to the stakes placed on the winning competitor, and those tickets are paid out. Essentially, it implements a system of starting price (SP) betting. In particular, it refers to the invention of George Julius , the English-born, New Zealand educated, Australian inventor, engineer and businessman, though there have been other claimants, notably engineer Joseph G. Nash. The term automatic refers to

328-754: Is less than the ABC , as they primarily run on low-power narrowcast licences that have tiny wattages. Racing coverage still operates, however, on commercial licences in Victoria (RSN, via 3UZ in Melbourne , 3BT in Ballarat and 3SR in Shepparton ), Sydney ( Sky Sports Radio , via 2KY - having been previously acquired by the NSW TAB via Sky Channel) and Brisbane ( RadioTAB , via 4TAB, formerly 4IP). Tabcorp own

369-601: Is now sublicensed from entities such as Racing.com . Due to Australian anti-siphoning law surrounding the Melbourne Cup , the rights to that carnival are separately sold by the Victoria Racing Club , with Sky Racing in the past sublicensing races from a free-to-air TV broadcaster (most recently Network 10 as of 2023). From 2024, Tabcorp holds a direct stake in the VRC carnival rights, on-selling content to

410-572: The Nine Network to satisfy free-to-air broadcast requirements. The TAB in New Zealand is the sole legal betting operator located in New Zealand. Bookmaking had been made illegal in New Zealand in 1911, replaced initially by on-course totalisators at thoroughbred and harness racing tracks, and later expanded with authorisation of a TAB in 1949. Notably, modern greyhound racing did not obtain totalisator betting until much later, with on-course so-called "equalisator" betting - with wagering permitted on

451-634: The Australian, New Zealand and American horse-racing industries and for greyhound racing in the UK, although there were other installations in countries as diverse as France, Venezuela and Singapore. RSN Racing %26 Sport RSN Racing & Sport (ACMA callsign: 3UZ , verbally referred to as RSN 927 ) is an Australian radio station in Australia. It broadcasts a sports radio format to Melbourne , and to much of Victoria through various repeater stations. First broadcast as 3UZ on 8 March 1925, it

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492-561: The New Zealand TAB; see below) does occur, although generally only with one Australian pool (typically SuperTAB). A notable exception is Hong Kong Jockey Club racing, where all three TAB pools commingle with the Hong Kong pool on certain bet types.. Australian TAB operators in modern times continue to provide totalisator betting on thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing, as well as fixed-odds horse and sports betting. Prior to

533-543: The Nilsen family sold 3UZ for $ 9.2 million to Launceston -based ENT Limited , associated with the controversial figure Edmund Rouse . A handful of programme titles from 3UZ's history: However, just one year later, 3UZ was onsold to the Victorian thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing bodies. In 1988, the station re-introduced horse racing coverage, leading the station to rebrand as Sport 927 in 1996. Throughout

574-757: The TAB itself by MediaWorks in 2015. The Radio Trackside network of frequencies was closed in April 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand as racing was suspended. The stations were sold later that year to the Australian Sports Entertainment Network , which was used to launch general sport radio station SENZ – a localised version of a format used on their stations in Australia (such as SEN 1116 ). Unlike stations that previously took Radio Trackside part-time, SENZ does not transmit TAB Trackside content; however SEN continue to host an audio stream of TAB Trackside TV. SENZ

615-591: The Tabcorp "TAB" branding in 2019. The Western Australia TAB was established in 1961 and is still state run, currently through state racing regulator Racing & Wagering Western Australia . Although TAB agencies in WA are generally still branded "TAB", the overarching brand "TABtouch" was introduced in 2013 operations (replacing former online brands such as TAB Ozbet ), to further distinguish from Tabcorp's brand. Attempts to privatise TABtouch have so far proven unsuccessful,

656-507: The TattsBet (now UTAB) pool. Ironically, the presence of three pools have permitted previously fixed-odds bookmakers, competitors to the TAB, to offer products that derive their returns from various totalisator starting prices (typically as best or middle dividend of the three, depending on the bet type), which provides an alternative to SP bookmaking, which is illegal in Australia. Limited commingling with international pools (including from

697-606: The United States were at Hialeah Park , Florida , in 1932 (by ATL), and at Arlington Park racecourse, Chicago , in 1933 by American Totalisator . The first entirely electronic totalisator was developed in 1966. Totalisators have been superseded by general purpose computers running specialised wagering software such as Autotote . In many cases beyond older systems, telethon tote boards have either been replaced by LCD displays showing totals, or scoreboards adapted to display dollar amounts. An automatic totalisator

738-510: The Victorian Spring Racing Carnival . RSN also provides a audio simulcast of Sky Racing through its digital services. Originally an additional DAB+ service known as TAB Live , the first RSN Xtra channel is now used for this purpose since 2023. Unlike Sky Racing simulcasts on Tabcorp-owned Sky Sports Radio (which run during radio station downtime), this service operates only operates between 10:00 and 23:00, as

779-645: The Western Australian TAB as the only remaining government-owned totalisator as of 2024. The online operations of TABs in Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Tasmania were initially re-branded as TattsBet following the Tatts Group merger. A major further rebranding to UBET in 2015 saw the previous TAB brands replaced, including at venue level. Following the merger of Tatts Group with Tabcorp, UBET outlets were rebranded to

820-628: The advent of integration of TAB services into hotels and clubs, as well as online betting. The TABs have extensive radio networks in Australia, except in Victoria (racing coverage instead provided via RSN 927 , operated by Racing Victoria ). All these networks share the National Racing Service, a continuous broadcast of thoroughbred , harness and greyhound racing . This makes up the bulk of these networks' content. Collectively, these networks own more radio licences than any other group in Australia – however, their terrestrial coverage

861-491: The codes - is once again known as TAB New Zealand . The management rights for TAB New Zealand have since been franchised to multinational gaming entity Entain effective June 2023. TAB New Zealand's television service is TAB Trackside , consisting of two channels (previously separately branded Trackside and TAB TV ). It commenced in 1992 as Action TV , assuming the Trackside name a year later, and originally operated as

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902-470: The colloquialism for "totalizator" (or "totalisator"), the name for the automated system which runs parimutuel betting , calculating payoff odds, displaying them, and producing tickets based on incoming bets. Parimutuel systems had used totalisator boards since the 1860s, and they were often housed in substantial buildings. However, the manual systems often resulted in substantial delays in calculations of clients' payouts. The first all-mechanical totalisator

943-403: The fact that the bets were automatically summed and a ticket issued when a bet was registered on the issuing machines, and it provided a safe and virtually fraud-free method of betting, replacing the earlier jam-pot totes , which used either paper transactions or some method of counting bets like steel ball bearings. The machine did not actually calculate the payout. The method was widely used in

984-512: The first "night artists". "...has received many favourable comments from Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales, and many remote country districts in Victoria on its transmission." In 1929, 3UZ, along with rival Melbourne station 3DB , participated in experimental television broadcasts using the Radiovision system. In 1978, with the implementation of 9 kHz spacing on the AM band,

1025-651: The late 1990s and 2000s, the station would acquire various AM and FM open narrowcast radio stations, as well as Shepparton -based 3SR , extending coverage across Victoria. It also established 3BT as a Ballarat -based rebroadcaster as 3BA transferred to the FM band, and affiliated with ACTTAB Radio and TOTE Sport Radio . In 2004, the station participated in DAB digital radio trials in Melbourne, alongside 3RRR , ABC Classic FM , ABC DiG , Radio 2 and SBS Radio . In May,

1066-751: The latter becoming available in the 1990s and 2000s, totalisator football pools based on rugby league and Australian football were operated in various states; these continue to be operated in New South Wales (covering the National Rugby League ), Victoria (covering the Australian Football League ), and Western Australia (covering the AFL and additionally Western Australian Football League matches). The number of stand-alone retail outlets has been steadily declining with

1107-491: The latter to "Track And Ball", reflecting the increased scope of the TAB beyond operating a horse racing totalisator. Both TAB operators also provide television services for South African and international racing (4Racing broadcasting Racing 240 and Global Racing 1 , Gold Circle providing Gallop TV ) which are made available via various satellite services (4Racing's channels being available on DStv ) and online streaming . Tote board The term "tote board" comes from

1148-476: The majority of the station's programming is dedicated to coverage of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing. 3UZ was founded by electrical engineer Oliver John Nilsen CBE, who was later to become a Lord Mayor of Melbourne . Known as "O.J." , Nilsen had created an electrical business, Oliver J. Nilsen & Co. (later Oliver J. Nilsen (Australia) Ltd) in 1916, manufacturing electric jugs, kettles, toasters, crystal sets and radios. On 6 February 1925, Nilsen

1189-613: The most recent attempt terminated in 2022. Although the state TABs are now all owned by Tabcorp except in Western Australia , due to legislative and other reasons three separate totalisator pools continue to exist in Australia, running mostly along historic operator lines: Wagering in Tasmania once contributed to the SuperTAB pool, however following the sale of TOTE Tasmania to Tatts Group, bets from Tasmania were moved to

1230-420: The station moved to 927 kHz. Over the sixty years between 1925 and 1985, the station achieved consistent top ratings as "The Greater 3UZ", with stars including Stan "The Man" Rofe , Eric "Tiny" Snell, John McMahon, Nicky Whitta , Graham Kennedy , Happy Hammond , Allan Lappan, Don Lunn, Ken Sparkes, John Vertigan, Neil Thompson, Martha Gardener , Stephanie Deste , Don Lane and Bert Newton . In 1985,

1271-506: The station took Nielsen Media Research to court, citing "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in lost advertising revenue due to ratings reporting policies. The case returned in April, and reached a settlement in September. Briefly, in 2011, the station rebranded as Radio Sport National . However, coinciding with the pending sale of Tote Tasmania to Tatts Group , the station rebranded as RSN Racing & Sport . Following this sale, RSN

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1312-472: The streaming service Spark Sport . The former AM/FM radio service was most recently branded TAB Trackside Radio (previously Radio Trackside ). The service had a history tracing back to Radio Pacific , and was later a part-time simulcast of Trackside TV on stations operated by MediaWorks New Zealand (namely the successors to Radio Pacific in BSport and later Radio Live Sport ). The stations were sold to

1353-623: The throughbred industry's stake in the station, RSN was relaunched in early 2023, with plans announced at the time for a deeper specific focus on Victorian racing, including during afternoon and evening coverage on its main service. In Melbourne, RSN Racing & Sport is simulcast on DAB+ digital radio , as well as via streaming services. The station currently operates two additional stations on digital platforms, which as of 2024 are branded RSN Xtra and RSN Xtra 2 . These two digital stations were originally branded RSN Carnival , providing capacity for additional programming during major events such as

1394-525: Was deemed to be excessive. The first all-mechanical machine was installed at Ellerslie Racecourse in New Zealand in 1913 (first used on the Holy Saturday races on 22 March 1913), and the second was installed at Gloucester Park Racetrack in Western Australia in 1917. George Julius founded Automatic Totalisators Limited (ATL) in 1917, which supplied the "Premier Totalisator: now including electrical components". The first totalisators installed in

1435-485: Was granted a broadcasting licence, and in March 3UZ commenced operations as "The Voice of Victoria" . Initially, the station broadcast on 930 kHz AM from studios in 45 Bourke Street , under Victoria's first "B-class" licence, permitting it to broadcast paid advertisements. At the time, other stations were dependent on subscriptions. 3UZ's first lineup saw Keith Cooke engaged as chief announcer, with Leslie Dobson, George Cowley, Dulcie Cherry and Gertrude Hutton included as

1476-399: Was himself an amateur mechanic, with a reputation for fixing clocks and organs in parishes he visited. Initially, George Julius was attempting to develop a voting calculating machine for the Australian government, to automatically reduce the instances of voter fraud and create a cheat-free political environment. He went on to present his unique invention, only to have his design rejected as it

1517-488: Was invented by George Julius . Julius was a consulting engineer, based in Sydney. His father, Churchill Julius , an Anglican Bishop, had campaigned, in the early years of the twentieth century, against the iniquities of gambling using totalisators and its damage to New Zealand society. That attitude had changed by late 1907 when he argued that the totalisator removed much of the evil of gambling with bookmakers. Bishop Churchill

1558-630: Was previously syndicated to racing radio services in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory , however as of 2024 it broadcasts to the state of Victoria only. In 2021, Racing Victoria took control of the thoroughbred industry's stake in RSN via its integrated media arm, making it a sister to its television station and web site, Racing.com . The harness racing and greyhound authorities continue to hold stakes in RSN. Today,

1599-512: Was replaced on its Tasmanian frequencies by Brisbane -based RadioTAB . The 927 kHz Melbourne frequency was slowly returned to RSN's branding starting in 2014 , although the "RSN" name was retained. ACTTAB Radio also eventually dropped its simulcast of RSN following that TAB's purchase by Tabcorp in 2014, with the Sydney-based Sky Sports Radio broadcast in its place. With Racing Victoria having recently purchased

1640-487: Was sold back to the newly-franchised TAB New Zealand effective February 2024, with SEN retaining commercial and content provision arrangements with the network. The current totalisator service in South Africa is provided by two companies, who commingle their bets into a nation-wide pool: The larger TAB operated by 4Racing was previously operated by Phumelela Gaming. Phumelela went into bankruptcy protection in May 2020, partly as

1681-439: Was sold in 1986 to the state's racing harness and greyhound racing bodies, as well as the three Melbourne-based throughbred clubs ( Victoria Racing Club , Melbourne Racing Club and Moonee Valley Racing Club ) as well as Country Racing Victoria. The metropolitan clubs continued to hold individual stakes following the formation of Racing Victoria as the state's principal thoroughbred racing authority in 2001. RSN's programming

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