PICK 6 pools have increased sharply since couplings were dropped, confirming that manyTAB horseracing players are happy with the rule change.

In the first month without couplings (9 September to 8 October 2013), the average pool was more than R500,000 or 45%, higher than the same period last year. The biggest Pick 6 pool during this timeframe was R5.7 million, as opposed to R1.9 million in 2012, and the average payout was a phenomenal R288,141 – a 367% increase on the same period last year.

It has been suggested that the Pick 6’s gains are at the expense of the other popular multiple-race bets, namely the Jackpot and Place Accumulator (PA), but turnovers show that perception is untrue. In fact, the average Jackpot pool from 9 September to 8 October this year increased by 35.7% to R883,988 from R651,001 in the same timeframe last year, while PA pools have maintained last year’s levels. Couplings were dropped from the Jackpot 18 months ago.

TAB boss Vee Moodley says the figures show a renewed interest in the Pick 6, Jackpot and PA bets by both big and small punters. The current average investment in a Pick 6 is R116. “An analysis of winning tickets and average bet values highlights the power of fractional betting and that the playing field is level – big punters do not have an advantage over small punters,” he said. “Horseracing was lacking a dream bet and the Pick 6 without couplings is now starting to fill that gap. Horseracing needs to compete with the sports betting pools and the figures to date show the Pick 6 is set to fulfil that role.”