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.ORIGIN OF THE PARI-MUTUEL SYSTEM Tlie French pari-mutuel system was invented on tlie Parisian race courses, or rather in tlie paddocks, when those who had come down to the races drew the names of the horses running and the winner scooped tlie pool. There was no deduction made, and tlie full amount was paid over without commission. Thus encouragement was given M. Oiler to exploit the national taste for lotteries by the invention of that huge caravan nnd offices on the boulevards In Paris, where the winners gains were only taxed at 5 per cent, while now the initial stakes lose much more of their value before the dividend is declared. The system was officially sanctioned by special vote of the French chamber of deputies and legalized by a presidential decree.
