pari-mutuel
noun
pari-mu·tu·el
ˌper-i-ˈmyü-chə-wəl 
-chəl,
ˌpa-ri-;
-ˈmyüch-wəl
1
: a betting pool in which those who bet on competitors finishing in the first three places share the total amount bet minus a percentage for the management
2
: a machine for registering the bets and computing the payoffs in pari-mutuel betting
Examples of pari-mutuel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel, meaning it's determined by the sales and the number of winners.
—
Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025
Powerball tickets matching five numbers, but missing the Powerball number, sold in other states are worth $1 million or $2 million, but payout amounts in California are on a pari-mutuel basis under state law and determined by sales and the number of winners.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel, meaning it's determined by the sales and the number of winners.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 1 Sep. 2025
Florida voters in 2004 approved a constitutional amendment allowing pari-mutuel facilities to add slots in Broward and Miami-Dade if voters in the counties agreed in local referendums.
—Dara Kam, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
By December, 1930, numbers bankers were using the pari-mutuel total—the sum wagered on a particular horse—to determine the day’s number.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
The most significant difference between sportsbooks and race books is that betting at race books can involve pari-mutuel betting.
—Max Meyer, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Prize amounts are pari-mutuel in the state, so prizes are based on ticket sales and number of winners.
—Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Sep. 2025
Powerball tickets matching five numbers, but missing the Powerball number, sold in other states are worth $1 million or $2 million, but payout amounts in California are on a pari-mutuel basis under state law and determined by sales and the number of winners.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025
In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel, meaning it's determined by the sales and the number of winners.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 1 Sep. 2025
Florida voters in 2004 approved a constitutional amendment allowing pari-mutuel facilities to add slots in Broward and Miami-Dade if voters in the counties agreed in local referendums.
—Dara Kam, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025
By December, 1930, numbers bankers were using the pari-mutuel total—the sum wagered on a particular horse—to determine the day’s number.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
The most significant difference between sportsbooks and race books is that betting at race books can involve pari-mutuel betting.
—Max Meyer, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Prize amounts are pari-mutuel in the state, so prizes are based on ticket sales and number of winners.
—Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pari-mutuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pari-mutuel. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share