OK, someone please tell me why...

[Flying Dutchman]

None of these Books uses a pari-mutual system?

It would guarantee a known profit to the Book and set differing odds in the biz.

Only the Horsey folks do this, why not in other sports?

[reno cool]

I'd guess that part of the problem would be you'd need a central base like the track has. You can't have radically different payouts for the same bet.
Also, the price would change on a bet already made. Numerous issues.

[dtp]

this would be interesting

[Flying Dutchman]

Yeah, but with all these Books failing you'd think someone would try it.

...damn successful in the track biz.

[Flying Dutchman]

...or at least it once was, I now read that tracks are failing all over the US.

Still pretty popular in Europe, especially in the UK, it seems.

[konck]

Because its a 17 to 20 % rake on horses you want that on sports

[tonyhomo]

No fukking way

[Boner_18]

Yeah. NYRA is struggling with it's system. Don't know if it is b/c of cost or to low a take out. I bet the real answer is simply tradition.