The annual Vodacom Durban July betting bonanza has commenced in earnest and TAB, South Africa’s tote betting operator, is preparing to process bets totalling more than R100 million on Saturday.

TAB betting for the Durban July meeting opened on Monday and has gathered momentum throughout the week. It will reach its peak in the minutes before the big race, when TAB’s computerised betting system will process more than 8000 bets a second.

Tote bets can be played at a TAB, by phone or online at www.tabonline.co.za

Unlike fixed-odds betting, TAB or tote payouts are determined by dividing the number of winning tickets into the pool total. The pools will be huge and good payouts are likely on all races, especially the Durban July.

Some of the estimated pool totals for the Durban July race meeting and the race itself:

• PA: R4 million
• Pick 6: R6 million
• Jackpot 1: R2 million
• Jackpot 2: R1.5 million
• Win: R9 million
• Place: R8 million
• Quartet: R9 million
• Quartet
• Maxipool
• Race 12: R2 million

Have fun, take a flutter and enjoy the day!