| Founder | Harry L. Straus |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Hunt Valley, Maryland |
| Owner | The Stronach Group |
| Website | amtote |
TheAmerican Totalisator Company, now known asAmTote International and commonly referred to asAmTote, specializes intotalisator equipment used to manage and controlparimutuel betting athorse racing,greyhound racing, andjai-alai facilities.
The company was founded byHarry L. Straus, a computer engineer from Baltimore, who became interested in developing a fairer system of calculating and displaying odds and payouts on parimutuel betting after an incident at aMaryland racetrack in 1927. When a horse listed at 12:1 odds won, but paid off at 4:1, Straus recognized the need for a more accurate and transparent system. He began developing his innovative machine, the totalisator, also known as the "tote board" usingtelephone relays[1] in 1928.[2]
Straus' new company installed its first equipment atPimlico Race Course inBaltimore, Maryland, which displayed odds and payouts on illuminated boards, now commonly known as "tote boards". In 1933, American Totalisator installed its first complete electro-mechanical tote system atArlington Park inArlington Heights, Illinois.[3] The Straus patents, 2,179,698 (issued November 14, 1939) and 2,182,875 (issued December 12, 1939), provided a platform for AmTote's growth as the once dominant provider of totalizator solutions in North America.[citation needed]
AmTote has installed more than 800 tote systems throughout the world. The original electro-mechanical devices have given way to fully computerized systems where bettors place and collect wagers at the same window, self-service betting terminals,Internet- andtelephone-based wagering, and "hub" systems to facilitatesimulcast wagering.
The "classic style" AmTote display consists of 24 bulbs, 6 high by 4 wide.
AmTote's numeric displays were often seen on televisiongame shows in the 1950s and 1960s, most notably the original version ofThe Price is Right. The company was also an investor in themanufacturer of the originalUNIVAC computer system.[4]
The company is based inHunt Valley, Maryland. It was once owned byGeneral Instrument and later sold to a division ofMotorola. Today, AmTote International is a wholly-ownedsubsidiary ofThe Stronach Group, the corporate parent of several race tracks, including Pimlico.