pari-mutuel

American  

[par-i-myoo-choo-uhl] / ˌpær ɪˈmyu tʃu əl /

noun

1. a form of betting and of handling the betting on horse races at racetracks, in which those holding winning tickets divide the total amount bet in proportion to their wagers, less a percentage for the management, taxes, etc.

2. Also called parimutuel machine.  an electronic machine that registers bets in parimutuel betting as they are made and calculates and posts the changing odds and final payoffs.

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pari-mutuel British  

/ ˌpærɪˈmjuːtjʊəl /

noun

1. 1. a system of betting in which those who have bet on the winners of a race share in the total amount wagered less a percentage for the management

   2. ( as modifier )

      the pari-mutuel machine

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Etymology

Origin of pari-mutuel

1880–85; < French: literally, mutual bet

Example Sentences

She was 20 years old when she made her debut on Feb. 7, 1969, at Hialeah Park and became the first woman in the U.S. to ride in a professional race at pari-mutuel track.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

But racing interests say that HHR is not a game of chance but skill and is connected to a pari-mutuel hub.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2025

In one of the strangest bits of pari-mutuel wagering, Fenwick, who was 50-1 on the morning line, was bet down to 12-1.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2022

Those ventures were jeopardized last year when Kentucky’s Supreme Court ruled that at least some forms of wagering on historical horse racing didn’t meet pari-mutuel wagering standards.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 30, 2021

Though officials lengthened the time between races considerably, the wagering lines were so long that many bettors never caught a glimpse of a pari-mutuel window.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand