Having a flutter

Every year on Melbourne Cup Day, thousands of racegoers visit the betting ring at Flemington to try their luck in the race. Many more place bets through the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB), known as the ‘tote’, either at Flemington or at off-course outlets. In 2009 Australians bet over $140 million on the Melbourne Cup through the tote.

In the early days at Flemington, racegoers were prevented from betting at the racecourse. On-course betting was introduced in 1882 in an unsuccessful attempt to stop illegal off-course starting-price (SP) gambling. Today, bookmakers at Flemington take bets for a win or a place, with more complex combination bets, such as quinellas and trifectas, reserved for the TAB.