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
The lawsuit came after the pari-mutuel companies West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. filed unsuccessful challenges in state and federal courts to sports betting.
—
Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 23 June 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
The lawsuit comes after the pari-mutuel companies West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. filed unsuccessful challenges in state and federal courts to sports betting.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 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
Type Of Horse Racing Bets Morning Line pari-mutuel odds change on race day as wagering takes place ahead of the races.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Jai alai operators were hit hard by a 2021 law overturning a requirement that certain casinos host pari-mutuel gaming, like jai alai or horse racing, in exchange for keeping card rooms or slot machines.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 18 Feb. 2025
Pegasus World Cup Invitational Field and Odds With pari-mutuel wagering, the odds are not fixed and rather are determined by the amount bet on each number and horse.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
The amount of money wagered on pari-mutuel racing — where bettors gamble against other bettors and the odds constantly change ahead of the race — has declined by about 55% since 2000, when adjusted for inflation, according to the Paulick Report, a website about the horse-racing industry.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024
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.
Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 23 June 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
The lawsuit comes after the pari-mutuel companies West Flagler Associates and Bonita-Fort Myers Corp. filed unsuccessful challenges in state and federal courts to sports betting.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 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
Type Of Horse Racing Bets Morning Line pari-mutuel odds change on race day as wagering takes place ahead of the races.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Jai alai operators were hit hard by a 2021 law overturning a requirement that certain casinos host pari-mutuel gaming, like jai alai or horse racing, in exchange for keeping card rooms or slot machines.
—Martin Vassolo, Axios, 18 Feb. 2025
Pegasus World Cup Invitational Field and Odds With pari-mutuel wagering, the odds are not fixed and rather are determined by the amount bet on each number and horse.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
The amount of money wagered on pari-mutuel racing — where bettors gamble against other bettors and the odds constantly change ahead of the race — has declined by about 55% since 2000, when adjusted for inflation, according to the Paulick Report, a website about the horse-racing industry.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pari-mutuel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pari-mutuel. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share