A perceived lack of transparency with regards to Tab soccer carryovers, and a process that patently lacks checks and balances for the customer is the subject of a letter written to the Sporting Post Mailbag by Paul Jenshen of Durban.
A copy of the letter was submitted to Phumelela and their response is carried below.
An accountant, Mr Jenshen writes:
Soccer score rules state
- 6.10.7 CARRY FORWARD: Should there be no winning tickets on a soccer 10 pool, the net pool shall be carried forward and added to a net soccer pool, selected at the sole discretion of Operator Management, provided that such carry forward is made within one month of the original pool or, in the case where it is the last event of a particular season, it shall be carried forward and added to a net soccer pool within one month of the commencement of the new season.
So now there has been three carry over bets with no winners in a row listed below totalling 467 000
I phoned tab asking for details on carry overs as the website does not really disclose this – not a very transparent process.
The lady I spoke to said that the carry over for 9 Dec is R151373.
I then asked what about the rest of the carry overs – she said she’d get back to me.
I then received an sms that confirmed the above and also said Sunday 6 December’s carry over will be allocated to the 20 December (pool was R166 000).
I then phoned back to ask about the rest of the carry over, but she could not tell me where the other R150 000 or so would be allocated to. She said she would get back to me.
I then phoned back later in the day and she said they are still investigating and would get back to me.
I then received a phone call telling me that they have divided up the two pools of the 1st and 29th into two amounts of R151 373 which will be allocated to the 9th and 13th December.
This is fair if it’s the case.
However it shouldn’t require me phoning in and bringing it to their attention, which then requires investigation on their part.
They say they have problems with their systems on the Soccer 6 website, hence the carry over info is not displayed adequately, but they have seem to have had problems with their system forever.
They now take until 12 to 1 pm the next day to publish results – this is unacceptable!
The bottom line is that there should be no need for investigating on their part. it should be known how much money is available in carry overs and this should be transparent and disclosed to punters when requested.
I work in an auditing background and this highlights huge risks of theft and fraud.
They could effectively swindle the punters of hundreds of thousands of legitimate carry overs due to lack of transparency, and the punters would never be able to accurately prove it without looking at their financial details.
Yes, their rules say they have one month to allocate this carry over, but the fact that they can’t tell a punter straight away where the money is being allocated seems rather poor to me.
I would appreciate if Sporting Post could investigate Tab with regards to their processes and campaign for greater transparency as well as efficiency with their online display platform.
They can show live results and carryovers with regards to horse racing in an instant of races finishing, however it takes until 1 pm the next day with regards to soccer pools.
Phumelela response:
Please note the carryovers(alongside pools) do appear in newspapers on Mondays (midweek) and Fridays(weekend):
Midweek
(Advertised in five Daily newspapers on Monday, TAB Sports Express and Soccer Laduma. Currently on the website)
Soccer SCORE Carryover Wednesday 9 December
Net Carryover: R151 373
Estimated Pool: R500 000!
Weekend Carryovers
(To be advertised in five Daily newspapers this Friday, TAB Sports and Soccer Laduma – will be on the website from tomorrow morning)
Soccer 10 Carryover Friday 11 December
Net Carryover: R300 000
Likely Pool: R2 100 000!
Soccer 10 V3 Carryover Saturday 12 December
Net Carryover: R500 000
Likely Pool: R2 000 000!
Soccer 10 V1 Carryover Saturday 12 December
Net Carryover: R200 000
Likely Pool: R1 100 000!
Soccer 10 Carryover Sunday 13 December (Also in Sunday Sun)
Net Carryover: R400 000
Likely Pool: R1 700 000!
Soccer SCORE Carryover Sunday 13 December (Also in Sunday Sun)
Net Carryover: R151 373
Likely Pool: R500 000!
Next Week’s Carryovers:
Soccer 10 Carryover Wednesday 16 December
Net Carryover: R416 564
Estimated Pool: R2.3 Million!
Soccer SCORE Carryover Sunday 20 December
Net Carryover: R166 526
Estimated Pool: R600 000!
Ed- we are not sure that this response adequately cover the process and transparency concerns raised by Mr Jenshen.
Then…
This letter just received from regular player Philip Goldberg of Kingpin Racing supports Paul Jenshen’s claims:
The Soccer plus Racing public are crying out for disclosure and transparency regarding carryover monies.
Why must the funds be held so long? Where are they being held? Who is earning interest on the monies?
Those carryovers should be re-invested in the game immediately while still fresh in the punters minds.
I just wish they would stop trying to create lotto type pools with lotto type dividends.
That kills the game, if anything.
Not enough winners, means more losers.
And if you lose,you stop playing.
Waiting till 12pm for dividends on soccer bets is also not on.
Who,what,where and how all goes through my mind while waiting on dividends.
These figures should be updated immediately after an event, showing progressive dividends, so the punter knows exactly where he stands,and can even trade to cover his bet – all in the effort to help him win – and stay in the game!
I have asked for audits on numerous occasions.
Unfortunately, counting the cash draw at totes and dividing tickets into pools is as far as the auditors’ imagination at Phumelela goes.
I have been in auditing, and fear the worst when it comes to this organisation.
