I agree that "casino based" gambling like racinos do far more for their patrons and that racing on the whole, not just a given OTB MUST find a way to do more for their patrons or risk becoming a minor sideshow to slot parlors.
Parking is free at casinos and costs at tracks. You can buy one one or two decent books on betting strategies and be set for essentially a lifetime of table games and slots. You don't need a $5 paper evertime you enter the casino.
The churn produced by slots pays for free drinks and food and pretty chadeliers while the relatively slow pace of racing means expensive eats and cement floors at tracks.
Remember too, that most OTB's across the country came into being as part of the racing industry, not the gaming industry. They measure themselves, traditionally against racetracks, not against casinos. Parking and admission at the track was $4 to $8 and free at OTB. Programs cost $1 + on track and were posted on the walls at OTB's. OTB's offered several tracks and on track patrons had only the live product. Many OTB's provided some published selections for free as well, which tracks didn't, except in the program that you paid for. (I realize tha many people complain about poor tellers etc at OTB's and I'm sure the same percentage applies at tracks. The problem is that OTB's usually only have 3 or so tellers so you might have no choice but to use one you dislike, at a track you have far more options.)
In the last decade with casinos and racinos everwhere, suddenly the OTB experience looks dreadful by comparison. Twenty years ago, only a small percentage of the population had ever been to a casino. You had to go to Vegas or Atlantic City and unless you were really into gaming or just out for a "lark" it was more of a special occasion to gamble. Now with "Indian" casinos every 100 miles it's hard to find someone who hasn't been to a casino. Lat's face it, OTB's AND racetracks (w/the glaring exception of a few) all look pretty raunchy by comparison.
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