2009 NY handle -10%, attendance just -4%

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

The problem is that at NYRA tracks and wagering platform, the dime super is currently the only "wade in" opportunity.

I know that there have been plenty of studies showing that, to date, there has been little, if any, cross-over between the lottery/slots players and horse wagering. However, I think that is partly because the owners of the slots parlors do nothing to facilitate or encourage horse wagering. (Saratoga Harness is a perfect example in this regard.) While the gaming parlors often trumpet big scores for small denominations at their facilities, I've often wondered why racing doesn't do the same. Imagine if the lottery/slots players were informed that they could win thousands for a .50 pic-4 wager (or hundreds for a .10 super bet). Would it change their gambling habits? I don't know, but perhaps it would at least be worth a try.

I know Iowa has a study that concluded that casino traffic and volume was impacted positively (significantly) when race meets were being conducted (as opposed to the periods when PrMtrack is not running).

You're right about certain facilities not engaging in any cross-promotion of racing/gaming. An exception to that is Remington where a huge glass-enclosed viewing platform runs along the middle of the slots parlor and mutuels are easily accessed in the casino.

And totally agree that the failure to properly demonstrate to the masses how they can win big with lottery style ease continues to be a missed opportunity...

A study of the correlation between minimums and pool size would be really be interesting to me. Perhaps the UA-RTIP people have one? I can ask around for that. Stan Bergstein's (HTA) people may have one too...