Support grows for Belmont slot machines

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by SentToStud

What will it be like? Just as you said. Competition. Some tracks make it, others go bust. Why should horse racing be immunized with slots? And why should horse racing benefit? No good reason. Unfair competition? Bullsh.t. There's competition in every industry. Why should there be new racetracks popping up just to appease horseowners? Plenty of tracks are surviving without slot machines and some are doing very well. Others are failing. So what? How's that different from how it has always been?

Slot machines in NY tracks is an absurd notion. What for? They already have the highest purse structure within 3000 miles. They're not going to attract better horses. Just taxing people more and paying inflated purses to the same horses.

If a racetrack can't make it, put up a mall. Or condos. The world will go on.

I find it hard to believe that you actually like horse racing...do you??? Or does your "belief" in "fairness?" cloud your judgement so much that you cant see what"competition" unfettered (lottery, casinos, etc) has done to the industry that you supposedly support. Racetracks are in the gambling business so why should they not be allowed to expand their gambling menus?

Since you obviously dont understand or refuse to believe is that the economics of owning horses is slanted so far towards unprofitability especially in places like NY, that higher purses are the only salvation for the smaller owner who has little chance of having a stallion prospect or top broodmare. You know the people that put up the money so that you have a sport to bet on...

Of course the world goes on if racetracks close but that is not a trend that a fan of the sport would seem to be in favor of.

[Danzig]

i just don't see why the tracks can't have slots or other forms of gambling...why just betting the ponies? the track is a gambling place, where people make bets and hope to win money--slots, video poker, etc--why not?
obviously a poorly run place won't compete regardless of what games of chance they employ, but why is it such a bone of contention?

[sumitas]

prolly such contention because of who is greasing who's palm. the right people pay or maybe contribute to the right politicians or their family then the contention goes away.

[Rudeboyelvis]

[soap box]It's pretty clear that horse racing is the "shoe horn" to expand gambling, whether its poker rooms, slots, table games, etc. The only interest in this sport from outside the sport is it's presence and it's legality.
That said, I find it (alternate forms of gambling) hard to believe that it's presence, in and of itself, impacts racing one way or another, save for the bone they contractually throw to the industry.
The problem occurs when the "bone" get renegotiated, after the foothold is present - that's the downfall of racing...until then, it's in everone's interest to promote idiots throwing dollars down the shute, in conjunction with promoting the living hell out of our sport so one day we can stand on our own...Again.[/soap box]

I like the idea of a slots presence at BEL and AQU, along with a public campaign to explain how the handle has been increasing even though few people bother to venture out to the track - would be kinda important along with it