Tote Betting Rules
All tote bets at TAB are pari-mutuel. Your stake joins a shared pool, the regulated takeout is deducted, and the remaining pool is paid out to winning tickets in proportion to stake. This page sets out the rules for each tote bet type, how dividends are calculated, and how scratchings, dead heats and abandonments are settled.
How dividends are calculated
Tote dividends are published as the return for every R1 staked. The calculation is:
Dividend per R1 = (Pool total − takeout) ÷ stake on winning combination
Takeout percentages vary by bet type and are set by the Gauteng Gambling Board. Win and Place pools carry the lowest takeout; exotic pools (Pick 6, Jackpot, BiPot) carry higher takeouts that fund carry-overs and guarantees.
Single-race bet types
| Bet | Selection | Min stake |
|---|---|---|
| Win | Your horse finishes first. | R1 |
| Place | Your horse finishes 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in fields of 8 or more (1st or 2nd in fields of 5–7). | R1 |
| Quinella | Pick the first two horses in any order. | R1 |
| Exacta | Pick the first two horses in correct order. | R1 |
| Swinger | Pick any two horses to finish in the first three. | R1 |
| Trifecta | Pick the first three horses in correct order. | R1 |
| Quartet | Pick the first four horses in correct order. | R1 |
Multi-race bet types
| Bet | Selection | Min stake |
|---|---|---|
| Place Accumulator (PA) | Pick a placed horse in each of seven nominated races. | R1 |
| BiPot | Pick a placed horse in each of seven nominated races. Mid-card. | R1 |
| Double | Pick the winner of two consecutive nominated races. | R1 |
| Jackpot | Pick the winner of four nominated races. Daily. | R1 |
| Pick 6 | Pick the winner of six nominated races. Headline pool. | R1 |
Scratchings and substitutes
If a horse you selected is scratched (declared a non-runner) after betting opens, the stake on that runner is refunded for Win and Place bets. For combination bets (Quinella, Exacta, Trifecta, Quartet), the bet runs at reduced odds against the remaining field, except where the scratching leaves an insufficient field to settle the bet, in which case the stake is refunded.
For multi-race bets (Jackpot, Pick 6, BiPot, PA), a scratched horse is substituted by the official tote substitute — usually the favourite in the race at the time of scratching.
Dead heats
Where two horses dead-heat for first, the Win pool is split equally between the two winning selections. For Place bets, dead heats follow the same proportional split rule. Combination bets treat dead heats as combined wins on every dead-heating selection.
Abandonments and postponements
If a race is abandoned before running, all stakes on that race are refunded. If a race is postponed to another date, stakes carry over to the rescheduled race unless the punter requests a refund within the published refund window. For multi-race bets, the bet is settled against the races that ran, with abandoned legs paying as the substitute selection.
Late scratching policy
A late scratching is any non-runner declared after betting has closed on the race. Late scratching refunds are processed automatically after the race is declared official. Refunds appear in your TAB wallet within 30 minutes of the official result.
Disputes
Tote bet disputes must be lodged with TAB within 7 days of the race date. Disputes are settled against the official stewards' result published by the racing authority. The stewards' result is final for tote dividend purposes.
Open an account and start placing tote bets.
Play NowFor the official 4Racing rules document, see the complete tote rules published by 4Racing.
Bet cost calculator
Working out the cost of a multi-leg or combination bet — especially Pick 6 perms, Trifecta boxes, and Quartet doubles — is fiddly by hand. Use the TAB Bet Cost Calculator to size your bet before placing it.