Gulfstream and it's slots parlor
 

The state of Florida doesn't allow ATM's or check cashing on premises?You have got to be kidding me.Who the hell thought of that ridiculous idea?Sure got some smart politicians down there.Anyone know the reasoning behind that one?

The "anti-gambling" segment of FL's politically connected. Of course many of the "anti-gambling" crew are tied into the Seminole Indian casino that hated to see their monoploy on slots in S.FL broke up. Of course the bill that allowed the slots at the tracks in Broward also allowed expanded gambling at the Indian casinos. Of course.

With all the revenue that Native Americans are racking up on slots in their casinos, who knows one of these days they may reclaim all land that the white man stole from them while taming the Wild West.

2020 could have a Sioux from the Black Hills of N.D. on the presidential ticket. This is America, anyone can take a shot at the job.

Just bring a cell phone and bet via account.

The reasoning is obvious. Many people get themselves into trouble by losing more than they meant to risk. Easy access to more money on site is one way to make it more likely that people will get in too deep.

I think it's reasonable of Florida to expect people to bring the money with them that they want to put at risk. I would think that most people wanting to cash a check had no intention of risking that money when they set out to gamble.

By forcing a player to go off-premises to get more funds, Florida gives the player a little time and distance to re-think the idea. That's a good thing, IMO.

--Dunbar

It would be a good thing if that was really the reason for it. But since they allow ATM's at the dog tracks/simulcasting facilities, I would say it's unlikely. I'm not knocking anyone who believes politicians have the public's best interests in mind, it's just that I personally DON'T! Special interests, not best interests. I know I've never asked one to protect me from myself.

Where to begin ? Any horse/dog racing facility in S.FL WITH SLOTS cannot have the ATMs on site by law. This was put in place by former Gov. BUSH and the anti gambling crowd. The purpose was to prevent gamblers from becoming addicts and spending money they couldnot afford to lose. SO, the law is having its desired effect and the track goes to its accountants and shows a drop in handle after the 6th race to back its claim. They had to figure early on in the slots war that "lets first get slots in, then we can deal with the ATM issue later when Bush is out" . Now, i dare say that the drop in on track handle is a rather minor concern here VS the loss in $$ they make on the slots. They continually use the horses to fuel what they want for the slots crowd and cater tothe slots crowd ,since that is where they make their money.

What I would like to see is for the Florida Horsemans Association to take this opportunity to push for some issues for the horse racing crowd, since the fans have no voice, but are only the customers.
1 - a permanent undercover grandstand, of say 500 seats, on the north side with free seating for racing fans who want to watch the horses run live from a seat with a view of the live racing instead of that joke of a temporary junior high school bleachers out in the melanoma sun.
2- free clubhouse seating for those customers who bet xxx amount ( called taking care of your core customers).
3 - more handicapped parking, The lot is always full and people have to walk long distances. Never been able to get in there and an 88 year old guy i sat with said the same, and also said he heard that casino/track employees take the handicap parking places.
4 equal treatment for race track and slots customers. ie - 10 palms restaurant buffet is $29.95 raceday and $16.95 after 7pm , slots time.

etc etc................

the real reason
 

Yes, good thinking there. I believe that they are only using this drop in handle though as an excuse for their real core business, SLOTS.

gulfstream/magna are a bunch of scumbags. They say horse racing is their #1 business for PR purposes, they can use all the issues like the # of employees in the horse industry and how it effects so many in such a large industry and pull out the $$$ figures. Then they have the backing of owners/trainers who basically care about purse size , $$, taking care of the horses/employees. $$$, So, keep the owners/trainers happy. WHILE, their REAL main business is SLOTS. That is where they make the $$, not racing. SO, now is the time to press for changes that they agreed in laws. % of $$ to education and no ATMs on site. They got what they wanted by getting slots in the door and now its all about changing the laws for a greater % of $$$ from slots and more $$$ bet thru slots by having ATMs on site.
ITS NOT ABOUT DROP IN HANDLE AFTER THE 6TH RACE.

Again, if they were so concerned about their customers, why not give them free seating, (like slots customers) to view live racing trackside. People get comfortable in a seat and don't leave, people that stand around alot get tired and leave , as well as those who don't want to mess with rush hour traffic.
BTW; the mantra pre slots was "$$ for education, for the children"- now apparently, education is crippling us, we cant afford to give so much $$ to education. MAGNA = SCUMBAG

The no ATM thing seems strange to me. ATM's wd's are generally limited to $500 per day(per account), so I don't really see the harm in having that available as a convenience.

Not having ability to get cash advances on Credit Cards may make sense to "protect" the bettors.

Personally it would drive me nuts not being able to hit an ATM if needed at the Track.

I thought so too, BUT, as CMORIOLES pointed out, preload the online account and bring your cell. NO PROBLEMO :D

I do the same when I go to the BC or Belmont stakes and they have ATMs which usually have a long lines.

Like I said, its not about the drop in handle after the 6th race. Its all about raising the tracks % of slots handle and increasing the slots play. If they were concerned about track handle , they would make the customer more comfortable, instead of making him search out a place to be comfortable. Its about getting HRTV dominant over TVG, and getting their handle away from the track, because they built a facility that can't handle a crowd, the only crowd they want ontrack is the very upscale crowd, who only comeout on saturdays.

GULFSTREAM - ITS ALL ABOUT NOT BEING THERE !

In Jacksonville, NE Florida, we do not have slots, we do have ATMs, and we have the "The Poker Room", which is absolutely packed from the moment it opens to the moment it closes every day! Poker and dog/horse racing are obviously "gambling", but we are not "protected" from ATMs! I cannot speak specifically about S Fl and Gulfstream.

I don't carry cash with me. I only take my ATM card and I have a low limit
so, I have to hit early or it's a short day.

I think we need something to protect us from the politicians.
"No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session."

Did you not read my post? The laws against the ATM's were put in by politicians friendly to Indian gambling. It has nothing to do with trying to help people from being problem gamblers. It was an attempt to hamper the tracks slot parlors anyway that the Indians can. Once they realized that the bills was going to pass the Indian Lobbyists went into full attcack mode trying to restrict as much as they could in regards to the tracks slot parlors. They even tried to make the tracks use an inferior type of slot machine. By the way, Indian casinos have ATMs.

In Texas we have no Indian gambling set ups and we do have ATM's at the track. However they have a 200 dollar limit. You cant take out another 200 until 24 hrs later. This may be a statewide rule here anyway in case one gets the card and number jacked.

I just use the Wimpy line for those of you who remember, I will gladly repay you on Tuesday, and that seems to work with the older tellers. The machines dont listen well though.

it sounds like Gulfstream Park really sucks

I have heard that there have been tracks with a cast system

but to treat horse players worse than slot players

gimme a break

you got it pal
 

This is Frank Stronachs new paradigm. Slots = big profits, horses not. This is the way it is.

The horse racing industry is taking the slots drug to keep going and raise purses. It is yet to be seen what this does to horse racing in the longterm. I can only tell you , that I have been to Delaware Park a few times and there is nobody sitting in the seats outside and about 20 on the apron. You can only hear the pounding of hooves and the crack of the whip. There is no crowd, the horse players are upstairs in simo locations and you would never know you were at a racetrack. IF this is the future of racing, I'll be playing alot more golf and taking up other things and just the summer racing at Saratoga.

BTW - the local paper has the polititians visiting the local tracks,slots places and the Indian casinos. They will be dealing and along with the ATM stuff and lowering the education takeout, will also look into table games for the Indian casinos. That should please the tracks when the slots players migrate out to play blackjack. :D