Totalisht

Totalisht is a term used in sports betting to refer to a pool or sweepstake in which a portion of the bookmaker's commission is subtracted from the total payout of a wager before dividing the remaining amount among all participants. This practice is used by bookmakers to make a guaranteed profit on certain types of wagers, such as pools and sweepstakes, where the entirety of the wagering amounts are used to fund the prize payouts.

In a totalisht pool, each participant contributes a portion of their wager to the pool, and a portion of the bookmaker's commission is subtracted from the total amount before it is divided among all winners. The percentage of the commission deducted from the pool varies depending on the specific type of wager and the rules of the pool. For example, in a parimutuel wager, the commission is typically taken from the total pool as bets are placed, with each participant's share being adjusted accordingly.

The term "totalisht" originated in the United Kingdom and is still used in some sports books and wagering establishments today. While it may seem counterintuitive, totalisht pools and sweats are legal and commonly used in many countries. However, the practice of deducting a commission from the pool has raised some concerns about fairness and transparency among participants. Despite these concerns, totalisht remains a widely used and recognized term in the sports betting industry.