
Dopamine aplenty on offer this weekend
Scottsville's sprint Jackpot pool is set to top R1.5 million.
Like addictive drugs such as cocaine, heroin, nicotine and alcohol, gambling activates the brain's reward system, which is powered by dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter inside the brain that reinforces
sensations of pleasure.
That's what comes up if you ask Google why people gamble. Of course, we know that seeking too much pleasure reinforcement is unlikely to be good for us in the long run, so best be a tad careful with the dopamine fixes during this Champions Season at the racecourse.
Health warning out of the way, on to the fun part: planning to scoop big Jackpot pools coming our way this weekend.
Three carryovers totalling R700,000 will boost pools for Jackpot One wagers this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Jackpot Ones at Fairview on Friday 30 May and at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday 1 June will kick off with R100,000 carryovers, TAB announced on Monday.
Between those two dates, the Jackpot One pool at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday 30 June will get a weighty R500,000 carryover.
The Scottsville meeting features four of South Africa's major sprint races, and they make up the four Jackpot One legs on the day.
The four sprints, all over 1200m, comprise three Grade 1 contests and a Grade 2, with the R1.5 million Gold Medallion for two-year-olds heading the show.
TAB predicts this pool will top R1.5 million, with the carryovers at Fairview and Kenilworth generating pools of more than R500,000.
Down the line
Looking a bit further ahead in the KwaZulu-Natal season, on Saturday 7 June punters will be able to bet into the huge Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool tote on Races 7 to 10 at the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge meeting, and on all races at the Epsom Derby meeting in the UK.
In other good news for the patrons who keep cash churning through the system, the Pick 6 first-timer rule has been extended to include the Bipot – as seen at Greyville racecourse this past Saturday.
Should first-timers finish first and second, the first horse to finish of those to have run before also qualifies for the Bipot.
'The purpose of applying the first-timer rule to the Bipot is to prevent customers from being disadvantaged by first-timers and will be welcomed by the many customers who have requested it apply to both the Pick 6 and Bipot,' said TAB.
'It should be noted that, in the Bipot, the first-timer rule does not apply in the event of a raced horse finishing first or second.
'As with the Pick 6, the first-timer rule only applies to Bipots on South African race meetings. In Quickmixes, it applies to South African races only.'
Fields for the Scottsville sprints have been finalised.
SA Fillies Sprint
(draw, name, weight, MR, trainer, jockey)
1 Double Grand Slam 60 122 Justin Snaith Richard Fourie
2 Frozen Fantasy 58.5 99 Robyn Klaasen Kabelo Matsunyane
3 Symphony In White 58.5 105 Candice Bass-Robinson Andrew Fortune
4 Just Be Lekker 60 109 Candice Dawson Serino Moodley
5 Rascova 60 122 Sean Tarry Gavin Lerena
6 Chasing Happiness 60 112 J A Janse van Vuuren S'manga Khumalo
7 Mrs Browning 60 113 Sean Tarry Luyolo Mxothwa
8 Mia Moo 60 115 Sean Tarry Callan Murray
9 Whistle The Tune 58.5 105 Candice Dawson Calvin Habib
10 Asiye Phambili 60 116 Duncan Howells Sean Veale
11 Gimme A Shot 60 110 M G Azzie/A A Azzie Muzi Yeni
12 Mai Sensation 58.5 105 Lucinda Woodruff Juan Paul vd Merwe
13 Chrome Tourmaline 60 106 Fabian Habib Diego De Gouveia
14 Gimmie's Countess 58.5 107 Dean Kannemeyer Craig Zackey
15 Convocation 60 92 Gareth van Zyl Athandiwe Mgudlwa
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
Hollywoodbets Durban July: And then there were 27
The race for the coveted Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025 title has taken a dramatic turn with the withdrawal of SA Derby winner Legend Of Arthur, leaving only 27 contenders still in the hunt for a spot in the R5 million Grade 1 event at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, 6 July. The final field will comprise a maximum of 18 runners plus two reserves. Legend Of Arthur, trained by Sean Tarry and previously seen as a strong Durban July hopeful, was scratched due to a medical issue. The three-year-old was set to be the backup ride for champion South African jockey Richard Fourie. This latest development leaves Tarry, a two-time Durban July-winning trainer (with Pomodoro in 2012 and Heavy Metal in 2013), with just one possible runner in the shape of Litigation. All eyes are now on Justin Snaith's highly regarded colt Eight On Eighteen, whose participation remains uncertain. Conflicting reports have circulated in recent days regarding his fitness and intended entry. Monday, 23 June : Final declarations deadline : Final declarations deadline Tuesday, 24 June at 11:00 : Final field announcement and barrier draw live on Gallop TV : Final field announcement and Thursday, 26 June at 07:00 : Public gallops for KwaZulu-Natal-based horses at Hollywoodbets Greyville Gates open at 06:30 Free coffee and pastries available for attendees : for KwaZulu-Natal-based horses at As the excitement builds, racing fans are bracing for what promises to be another thrilling edition of South Africa's most iconic horse race. Horses remaining in contention for Hollywoodbets Durban July Horse MR Trainer Future Swing 117 Justin Snaith Immediate Edge 108 Mike / Mathew de Kock Purple Pitcher 122 Robyn Klaasen Rainbow Lorikeet 111 Candice Bass-Robinson Underworld 109 Justin Snaith Son Of Raj 119 Tony Peter The Equator (IRE) 110 Tony Peter Atticus Finch 121 Alec Laird Madison Valley 115 Frank Robinson Eight On Eighteen 129 Justin Snaith On My Honour 116 Glen Kotzen Magic Verse 113 Justin Snaith Selukwe 111 Andre Nel Confederate 118 Fabian Habib Royal Victory 125 Nathan Kotzen Beating Wings 113 Stuart Pettigrew Okavango 120 Justin Snaith Gladatorian 127 Stuart Ferrie Litigation 113 Sean Tarry Oriental Charm 127 James Crawford Pomodoro's Jet 118 James Crawford Holding Thumbs 107 Glen Kotzen Thunee Playa 104 Mano Pandaram See It Again 127 Michael Roberts Native Ruler 119 Justin Snaith My Best Shot 116 Alan Greeff The Real Prince 120 Dean Kannemeyer Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Green Shoots: When having a flutter is no longer fun
I was caught up in Johannesburg traffic the other day, and crawling along the M1 highway allowed me to take in the many billboards whose sole purpose is to convince you to buy what it is they are offering. And most of these offerings were from online gambling services. I saw Betway and Hollywood Bets promising me great excitement and wealth with minimal effort – I can place my bet anywhere, anytime, and on almost anything. You will have seen these adverts all over our television screens, and heard them on radio. Some of our favourite sports teams have been renamed according to their sponsors – Hollywood Bets Sharks is my rugby team of choice, and they play their home games at Hollywood Bets Kings Park Stadium, up the road from Hollywood Bets Kingsmead Stadium where cricket is played. And fan favourite rugby world cup winner Makazole Mapimpi is their brand ambassador, along with soccer legends like Teko Modise and Jerry Sikhosana. Gambling in this country is big business. Gross gambling revenue (GGR) was R59 billion in 2024. Since COVID in 2020, this revenue growth has been at 42% per year. Gambling is a significant contributor to economic activity and apparently supports 32 000 jobs, with most revenue generated in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. I'm a little concerned about this phenomenon. We are suckers for a slick advertising campaign, and the saturation messaging of these betting platforms should be cause for concern – indeed, alarm – in more sections of our community, including government and the appropriate regulatory authorities. I found online information on gambling fairly easily, and so I clearly am not alone in feeling uneasy. Industry research says that the reasons respondents give for their gambling appear to be increasingly connected to financial strain, with more than half of surveyed punters saying they gambled because they needed the money. This survey clearly provided the option for multiple answers, because more than two thirds were hoping to win a large sum of money, and down the list somewhere 14% said they had lost their job. When the bet is placed because you need to survive, you know you're in trouble. The online source of my data is an investment firm, and they say that 'problem gambling' prevalence has increased five-fold since 2017, with 21% of problem gamblers unemployed and 84% earning under R15,000 per month. People, we have a problem. And this isn't even considering those for whom gambling is an addiction they cannot beat. Imagine trying to quit a habit when every corner and screen and broadcast is almost brow-beating you to place the bet. Some may say the tax revenue that is generated should be able to ameliorate the social costs ofgambling. Apparently casinos paid about 10% of their revenue in taxes last year, and betting platforms a paltry 7%. Is that supposed to ease the destruction that this practice has for people who are not recreational gamblers? For perspective, cigarettes are taxed at 40% and spirit alcohol at 36%. You don't see your favourite tipple on the telly anymore, and we're a short step from having cigarette packets with no branding expect really disturbing pictures of what happens to your gums when you smoke (I saw those in Thailand recently). I am no prude, and I have been known to wager a bit every now and then. I am no advocate for a nanny state – we cannot over-regulate the choices and behaviour of grown up people. And I know that jobs are at stake. Apparently Tsogo Gaming and Sun International employ half the gambling industry's workforce. With the lower cost and greater accessibility of online platforms, there is a real danger of job losses. For all these reasons, will the authorities please see reason and common sense, and control the bombardment of advertising of these online betting platforms.


The South African
3 days ago
- The South African
Orlando Pirates make their move for exciting PSL striker
Orlando Pirates are exploring a deal for one of the most exciting young strikers from last season's Betway Premiership season. 23-year-old Yanela Mbuthuma shone for Richards Bay in 2024-2025. A move for Mbuthuma is part of a transfer flurry from the club, which could see eight players arriving. Seven signings in the bag for Pirates Yanela Mbuthuma will challenge Evidence Makgopa and Tshegofatso Mabasa for a striking role. He got five goals and two assists in 24 league appearances last term for Richards Bay. Why is nobody talking about Monnapule Saleng? It's strange to see spectacular footballers fall into relative obscurity. That's what's happened to Monnapule Saleng at Orlando Pirates. Did we perhaps overrate the occasionally brilliant winger because he can win matches on his own? Click for the story Will the Chiefs slayer return, or are his days in the PSL done? Image: @orlandopirates / X According to Goal, Monnapule Saleng's salary isn't among the very highest in the PSL. It's in the region of R70,000, or R280,000 a month. It's not shabby, but it means he's not in the top percentile of earners in South Africa. Click for the story Is Mbuthuma the right level for Orlando Pirates? Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.