Oaklawn reduces minimum bets

[Calzone Lord]

Originally Posted by jms62

Say hello to the 200.00 P4 payout making an unbeatable game even more so.

Bet it more times for 50-cents.

If anything -- lower minimums make the game more beatable because they greatly diminish your chances of having to deal with withholding on a big paying ticket and they greatly reduce the amount of times you sign.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Bet it more times for 50-cents.

If anything -- lower minimums make the game more beatable because they greatly diminish your chances of having to deal with withholding on a big paying ticket and they greatly reduce the amount of times you sign.

I agree, I've never really understood that argument. It does cut down on the chances of a huge, take the whole pool type score. What it also does is put a whole bunch of dumb combinations in as well. At worst it is a push, and at best probably helps those that are smart about the bet.

It's definitely a challenge not to get lazy and play safe...which usually results in a bloodbath.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Coach Pants

It's definitely a challenge not to get lazy and play safe...which usually results in a bloodbath.

Well said. Any track that offers 50 cent pick 3's I try to play for a minimum of $1.50 and punch 2-3-2 type tickets. Its very easy to get lazy and go 4-4-5 for 50 cents. Then you get prices and its only paying around $100. I will only play a minimum of 50 cents if its for just some action of BC days.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Well said. Any track that offers 50 cent pick 3's I try to play for a minimum of $1.50 and punch 2-3-2 type tickets. Its very easy to get lazy and go 4-4-5 for 50 cents. Then you get prices and its only paying around $100. I will only play a minimum of 50 cents if its for just some action of BC days.

I thought you were more fond of going ice cold with $100 1-1-1 tickets.

[Alan07]

They just signed a deal with TVG. Now if they could only get a turf course.

[Oaklawnfan]

Times are certainly changing at Oaklawn. First, Terry Wallace retires. Second, they lower the minimums on Pick 3's, 4's and the Classix. Now they'll probably get a casino. Oh wait a minute! They've already got one! At least I can enjoy the use of a Tote Machine rather than visiting those friendly and cordial Mutual Tellers. I thought Oaklawn was setting records and still doing it while going against the grain.

Originally Posted by Alan07

They just signed a deal with TVG. Now if they could only get a turf course.

With a name like OakLAWN and TURFway, you would think they would get one already

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by Alan07

They just signed a deal with TVG. Now if they could only get a turf course.

The weather is not conducive to turf racing. They'll never add a turf course.

For everyone predicting $200 Pick 4 payouts at Oaklawn, you've definitely not followed their racing much. They only offer one Pick 4 per day and the races that make up the sequence are often large, competitive fields. The lower minimum will add to their handle (which is often as much as 33% on-track money) and that's a good thing.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

The weather is not conducive to turf racing. They'll never add a turf course.

For everyone predicting $200 Pick 4 payouts at Oaklawn, you've definitely not followed their racing much. They only offer one Pick 4 per day and the races that make up the sequence are often large, competitive fields. The lower minimum will add to their handle (which is often as much as 33% on-track money) and that's a good thing.

Just like it helped Saratoga payouts. Lets have some fun and track their payouts this year and compare vs last year at 1 dollar increments. I will concede that handle may improve in year 1 but my opinion avg payouts will be down and their will be less 1k payouts vs 2k payouts from last year. And no i do not follow oaklawn because i have spent too much time in the past handicapping the card only to have it be cancelled due to bad weather.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by Calzone Lord

Bet it more times for 50-cents.

If anything -- lower minimums make the game more beatable because they greatly diminish your chances of having to deal with withholding on a big paying ticket and they greatly reduce the amount of times you sign.

Unfortunately there is no analysis that supports what you said. Payouts are watered down and simply doubling up doesn't get it done. Players will bet the same amount as always and have more combinations thus watering down the payout. One thing it is doing is driving down handle probably pushing some whales out of the door. Would love to see some hard and true analysis on the effect of lower minimums

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by jms62

Unfortunately there is no analysis that supports what you said. Payouts are watered down and simply doubling up doesn't get it done. Players will bet the same amount as always and have more combinations thus watering down the payout. One thing it is doing is driving down handle probably pushing some whales out of the door. Would love to see some hard and true analysis on the effect of lower minimums

They drive down the biggest payouts, but they drive up others. We'll see how handle compares to last year, but anything that makes the pool bigger should help a player with an edge.