Penn & Playboy Team UP

[Druther]

bloodhorse.com >> News
Online Wagering, Complete With 'Betting Bunny'
by Blood-Horse Staff
Date Posted: 4/16/01 1:21:44 PM
Last Updated: 4/16/01 1:25:01 PM

Penn National Gaming has inked a deal with Playboy Enterprises to develop PlayboyRacingUSA.com, the company's online pari-mutuel wagering site. Operations could begin by the third quarter of 2001.
Under the terms of the agreement, Penn National Gaming will be responsible for the service's development, day-to-day operations, and overhead, including hardware and software, management, and customer support. Playboy will provide marketing, branding, user interface, design, and content.

The site will be licensed and operated in Pennsylvania, where account wagering is legal. Penn National, through its wholly owned subsidiary eBetUSA.com, has formulated a vertical marketing strategy that builds upon its existing authorization for account wagering.

PlayboyRacingUSA.com will offer a wide variety of pari-mutuel wagering on North American racing. Penn National gives the company the opportunity to launch the site with live racing and wagering on about 30 tracks. The site will have safeguards to block wagers from states and jurisdictions where online pari-mutuel wagering is prohibited.

Said Lawrence Lux, president of Playboy.com: "The site will bring Playboy's unique brand of sexiness, excitement, and fun to online horse racing. Our live Playboy Betting Bunny, Deanna, who consumers will already know from PlayboySportsBook.com, will serve as the site's interactive hostess."

The company said it has 4.4 million visitors to its site each month.

Peter M. Carlino, chief executive officer of Penn National Gaming, said the partnership gives Penn National a chance to draw upon Playboy's "tremendous brand and marketing strengths, inluding its large and demographically appropriate online and offline audiences."



Copyright © 2001 The Blood-Horse, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[witchdoctor]

It is good to see horse racing is getting more eXposue

[Dave Schwartz]

Groan! <G>

[Druther]

Hey, ligthen up, Dave.

Most tracks have a bugler to bring out the field. Penn will probably play “Hopping down the bunny trail.”

[TonyK@HSH]

Since I was an E-bet beta tester I've certainly earned the right to test drive this site... are you listening Mr Carlino???

Tony

[JimG]

Oh great, now that I use e-bet they go to Playboy. Of all the bad luck <g>. Now the wife will wonder if I am gambling or checking out women when going by the computer. Can't win either way.

Jim

[Tom]

There was a Playboy link to hrose racing years ago-in the 70's. Finger Lakes ran a series of long races-from 1-1/4 up to 4 miles and 1-1/8. It was a starter allowance series and most of the world records still stand. When they ran around the track four times, they would put Playboy bunnies up on a table in front of the tote board.
Everytime the horses completed a lap, one bunny would step down. This way, the jocks knew how many laps were left.
Talk about your pick-four!
Tom
(I bet Mil Reef-he got lapped!)

[Observer]

I guess some people have given up on trying to attract more women to the racing game. What a slap in the face as the game was seemingly taking a more women-friendly approach, especially with so many women going through the spotlight of the game.

Excuse me for being a woman, but I find this move a HUGE disappointment. Plus, this will only go to bolster the "sleeze" tag many have tied to those who gamble.

Have fun guys, this move was obviously not targeted to make me a happier customer.

[Tom]

Observer-why do you take this so personal?
Playboy is helping increase internet racing and opportuinities for the sport to grow. Just becasue they put out a mag that you don't like, no one is forcing you to buy it. I should think if you were to talk about the sleeze factor you would look to Stronach as coming from an unreputable industry-the american automotive industry. How many people die every year due to known defects on cars? Remember the Pintos blowing up, the side gas tanks on GM trucks for 25 years that ignited on impact? The Ford defective seat belts, the Chrysler defective rear door latches? The auto industry routinly weighs human lives against the risk of lawsuits. I would think if anyone gave a bad name to racing it is these low lifes. Before you get mad and leave the track, check out your tires-are they FireStones? You remember thier moto,"Where your mother meets the road!"
Sheez!
Tom

[PaceAdvantage]

I think Observer has a valid argument. I also think it should/will be a blip on the radar screen of racing. After all, we're talking Penn National here. I'm sure Penn is going to team up with any and all comers that want to license its online wagering technology...sort of like Lottery terminals in convenience stores....

I'd be surprised if this gets a lot of national attention, but I've been known to be wrong before.....

I don't want to start a debate on the effects Playboy and its ilk have had on the treatment of women in society and the effects it has had on their perception and social standing, but suffice it to say, I think we can all agree it has never helped women achieve their rightful and equal place in society.


==PA

[Tom]

We already have lottery terminal in convient stores, drug stores, book stores, bars, grocery stores, you name it. NY is lottery crazy. They have that stupid ball game playing every 5 minutes and book stores are setting up tables and chairs for people to spend the day.
By the way, are you boycotting Dubai racing? don't they make women wear viels and walk behind the men over there?

[PaceAdvantage]

Tom, I was merely saying that Penn is probably looking to license its online wagering software to as many outlets as it can in addition to Playboy....just like lottery terminals are leased out to as many convenience stores that will take them. I wasn't endorsing or condemning the lottery, just making a point that Playboy is not likely to be the only one signing up to use the ebet technology.

Wagering is illegal in Dubai, so I'm not sure Dubai sees a penny of my wagering dollar should I decided to place a bet on any of their races during the World Cup. And from what I could see on the video feed from Dubai the past few years, I don't think Dubai is as backward as you believe. I saw a female standing next to a Sheikh himself (and she was dressed in traditional Arab garb) in the winner's circle, with no veil, and no obvious signs of second class citizenship. Maybe others more familiar with Dubai culture can comment further for you.

==PA

[Tom]

I meant that as a facetious comment, not reality. It just seems everyone has a cause these days.
I just find it silly to complain that Playboy hasn’t helped further woman’s causes. Has Frank S. helped? (rhetorical question)
If his Magna is like any other industry, they probably pay women less than men. Where is the uproar over his racing empire? Enough of this-let’s talk horses (colts and geldings only, though <G>).

[andicap]

Gee, Tom, I thought for sure you were a Republican, but you're showing a pretty big populist streak here railing against car companies.

Who cares if Playboy is promoting racing if its good for the sport and gets people involved? Talk about rampant political correctness run amok! (And I'm a Democrat who wouldn't mind see Paul Wellstone as president).

andicap

[Tom]

I am a consevative, not a republican. But I admit I don't share the party line much more than 50%. I also work in the auto industry, so I have many years of watching what goes on in the assembly plants. And with their engineering group. Gag Gag.
I didn't really mean to get in the middle of an arguement, but I don't always know when to shut up.
I just think anyone who will make internet betting easier get my next vote. Besides, I only read the articles
in Playboy (Doh! There I go again!)
G'night. all!
PA, Observer-no hard feelings...nothing personal intended.
tom

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally posted by andicap
Who cares if Playboy is promoting racing if its good for the sport and gets people involved?

andicap

Hi Andy,

You're assuming that Playboy promoting racing is good for the sport and will get people involved. I would guess from this line of thinking that you believe that any publicity for racing is good publicity, like the times when all they show on the nightly news are the racing oddities (such as spectacular breakdowns, or Zippy Chippy racing a trotter.....) I'll take a wait and see approach on this one.


==PA

[Observer]

Tom, I take this as personal because I am a woman in a man's game and a man's world, and this is just a blantent reminder that I'm an invader. Sure, the tides have been changing, but there is still a major uphill battle. My post was not against Playboy the Magazine, it was against Playboy in general. You tell me what good Playboy has done for women in general? And why should I believe this would entice more women to be active in racing, a sport that is already heavily populated by men. There is a whole other crowd out there to be targeted, and this is not the way.

I hate to turn this into a man versus woman thing, but you guys are looking at this from a man's perspective, except PA of course. This is not my personal fight against Playboy, this is the general negative feelings all women have toward Playboy and such. They simply don't like it. This is like the classic battle between men and women, with women not understanding why the men need to look at Playboy, porn movies, have wild bachelor parties and go to strip clubs, while men see absolutely nothing wrong with this behavior.

However, I go back to my original arguement over this, which was blown completely out of context. My major point was how racing is already see as "sleezy," a game for "degenerates." You throw Playboy into the mix, including advertising and promotions, and now you have an even bigger attraction for the "degenerates," even more reason for the game to be looked down upon by the majority of society.

Andicap, I can't see how bringing Playboy into this is good for the game. It's only good for the male customers and will do nothing but turn the women away. If that's the crusade, then fine, they will accomplish their mission. Luckily, as PA pointed out, this is only Penn National.

As a woman, I find Playboy and all such organizations degrading toward the way women should be percieved, as most women do. We're more than just bodies to be paraded around. And in an age when the average woman is still only making 76 cents to a man's every $1 earned, I feel I am justified. One week of every month women are working for free. Excuse me if I'm a little bitter.

[PaceAdvantage]

Actually, it's not just penn national. Playboy will evidently be providing an online wagering experience for a national audience, using Penn National's ebet technology. I'm sure they will heavily promote it in their magazine, and perhaps on their cable channel.

[Observer]

Gee, thanks for the correction. I feel so much better now.
;)

[Dave Schwartz]

Observer,

You bring the subject of gender into what we men would like think is a male-dominated arena.

I am not suggesting that you are wrong, in fact, I agree with you 100%. I am simply suggesting that to the majority of the racing public (which are men) it is a non-issue.

You also touched upon the subject of porn... did you know that 3/4 american men have an "addiction" to porn? Yes, you probably do.

Do you know that most men do not understand that porn destroys the very fabric of our society by destorying the relationships within a marriage? Again, you probably do.

My point here is that we men (typically) have no clue just what a negative impact porn has on women. There is even a segment of the public that would say that Playboy is not porn because... well, I am sure someone can supply a reason.

We don't think that Playboy Inc. is anymore about porn than Disney is about "family entertainment."

(Boy, can't believe how strongly I am on the soapbox here. Well, I either delete now or go on. Did I continue? Can't help myself.)

So, I think that Playboy being involved will have some negative impact on women; Especially the more educated and sophisticated variety. The very same group of women that are likely to pick up the intellectual challenge of horse racing.

Of course we men won't care about that... until our wives won't let us go. <G>

[ceejay]

Originally posted by Dave Schwartz
... did you know that 3/4 american men have an "addiction" to porn? ...


Dave,

I'm not arguing with you I'm just curious of your source for this stat?

[Tuffmug]

I'm all for a Playboy betting link! Hope they have lots of naked ladies on it. A boob looking at a bunch of BOOBS won't have his mind on his handicapping.

[Tuffmug]

So as not to offend those intellegent and educated ladies we wish to entice to the sport, perhaps we should require all the horses to wear shorts to prevent thier "NAUGHTY BITS" from offending their delicate natures!

[Dave Schwartz]

ceejay,

This was a claimed survey at a religious conference I attended. Actually, it was 75% of church-going Christian men in the statement.

Shortly thereafter they asked for men to admit they had such a problem and I was amazed to see that every bit of 3/4s of the men present stood up. On a second (and a third) occasion I witnessed a similar occurrence of the same question.

While this certainly does not represents an empirical study, it certainly leads one to believe the numbers. The first group had about 15,000 members, by the way. The other two were small groups of under 300.

[Larry Hamilton]

I am not willing to accept that 75% of men lust after porn...Some do it all the time, some do it sometimes, some did it when they were young, some do it now....PORN sites on the internet didnt get to be the most viewed sites by accident. What I want to know is why are those 25% who didnt stand up (in daves example) not telling the truth? Perhaps, someone is watching them? Without discussing whether it is wrong or right, it seems a no-brainer to state unequivocally that men, one time or another during their lives, have lusted--it's biology.

One day, we all have to answer for our lives. When He confronts you with your foolishness, what are you going to say?

[smf]

**One day, we all have to answer for our lives. When He confronts you with your foolishness, what are you going to say?**

"Entrapment!! Shouldn't have made women look so good."

Seriously tho, I agree w/ Observer. Racing will need to be eyed favorably to get legislation we'll need to go foreward. Playboy may not help the cause.

[Tom]

Seems to me, after the last eight years of Clinton, the best way to get onthe side of politicians is to hook up with hookers. After all, what was the president if not a john? And why is it that every time some one runs for office, the first thing we hear about is what sex affairs he has had?
I will take the morals of Playboy over the US government any day of the week, thank you. To my knowledge, Playboy never dropped fire bombs on living people. Racing has to be involved with government and politicians and this means liars, cheats, crooks, and murderers. Is is OK to deal with them so long as they keep their shirts on?
Tom

[PaceAdvantage]

Good point Tom. I've never been very fond of politicians myself....

[JimG]

I'm not sure that Playboy hooking up with horse racing is a good thing from an image standpoint; however, I do think Playboy's money and advertising thrown into this venture is a good thing. Hope it leads to horseracing getting into more partner/sponsorships.

With respect to the 75% question, define "addiction". Seems a bit high to me but I surely do not look the other way if it is thrown in my face <g>.

Jim

[andicap]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tom
[B]Seems to me, after the last eight years of Clinton, the best way to get onthe side of politicians is to hook up with hookers. After all, what was the president if not a john? And why is it that every time some one runs for office, the first thing we hear about is what sex affairs he has had?


Ahhh, Tom, but what about a president who snorted coke and was arrested for drunken driving? Is that any better?

But back on subject, I do agree with you about politicians. The casino lobby gave millions to the Democrats and reaped the benefits. Racing doesn't nearly have that clout and couldn't get the Internet Gambling bill passed last year which would have been a huge boon to interactive and online wagering. Al Gore opposed it.
Now I voted for Gore, but I realize how much money corrupts all parties, Dems and Reps.
So, Tom you must be for the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill? By cutting down on the casino's influence in politics, it would help racing.
And yes, I recognize it's risky getting into bed with Playboy (sorry, I couldn't resist), but for a sport that's slowly dying you have to take the risk.

andicap

[Tom]

[

Ahhh, Tom, but what about a president who snorted coke and was arrested for drunken driving? Is that any better?
********************************************
No, it's not, but at least he wasn't president at the time, and he admitted to it. But give him time, he will do something unbelievamable!?
********************************************
So, Tom you must be for the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill? By cutting down on the casino's influence in politics, it would help racing.
********************************************
Seems to me they are doing nothing more than posturing and playing politics. I have lost a lot of respect for McCain in recent weeks. I don't agree with hurting casinos to help racing-those people have theri rights too.
********************************************
And yes, I recognize it's risky getting into bed with Playboy (sorry, I couldn't resist), but for a sport that's slowly dying you have to take the risk.
********************************************
Amen-no matter who your partner is, they have faults.
Let's try it out and see what happens. I wouldn't care if the Columbia drug cartels were footing the bill-we might as well get the use of the money instead of the CIA and Congress

andicap [/B][/QUOTE]

[smf]

Andicap,

I agree that (while I love Playboy mag, myself) coupling them w/ racing won't do us any good. Remember when Janet Reno's henchmen wagged their little fingers at simulcasting last summer? They wanted to look into putting an end to interstate wagering on races.

As much as I disliked Reno, Ashcroft won't be much better if at all. Linking w/ Playboy won't make the fight any easier.

As far as Bush snorting coke....Please provide a link, sir. I haven't seen any eyewitnesses on tape or any media links that proved he snorted 30 years ago, or whenever this supposedly happened. Also, the 1976 dwi he had was a misdemeanor. $70 fine.

After his first crisis solving, I give him an A+. He did the best possible w/ the cards he was dealt. I was just getting out of the Air Force when Iran yanked carter around like a dead chicken. Had to watch that for over a year, such fun (not). Morale in the military had sunk to the bottom.

Compare that w/ what GWB has done. Allowed a capable Foriegn Relations staff to get a *Military Crew* home in just 10 days. That's ten days from China, mind you. Not some backasswards desert country (Iran) whose sister nation GWB's dad slapped around like, well, Iran slapped carter.

Maybe jimmy carter didn't snort, but his competence level was answered, and off he went. Hellllooo Ron Reagan!!

The night before the election, Gore's former Harvard roomate said, on camera in a PBS special, that Al Gore and he smoked the weed "over 100 times at least". As many of Bush's college buddies that were interviewed, none ever noted any drug use although the question was posed to each and every one of them. You can check this out for yourself by contacting your local pbs station and getting a copy (on sale).

[Dave Schwartz]

JimG,

I found the figure astounding myself. But, as I said, if a room full of guys claiming to be church-going Christians stand up and publicly admit it, I've got to assume that the percentage in the "control" group would not be too much lower. <G>

[bdhsheets]

My 2 cents worth:

What a person does in the privacy of his or her own home is their business. (Provided of course they're not pulling a Jeffrey Dahmer or some such harmful activity) Watch all the smut you, pray naked, whatever floats your boat.

Having said that, horse racing associating with Playboy is a gigantic mistake. Observer is correct in her observation that society looks at Horserace gambling as "degenerate" in some way, where casino/riverboat gambling is okay (go figure). Playboy will not help the image of a sport in big, big trouble. The NTRA is asleep at the wheel as usual.

Horseracing needs to attract women/families to the sport and show folks how much fun it can truly be. I attend Arlington Park in the summer time and I just can't visualize Playboy bunnies parading around the facility. (well I can buuuuuut.......!). The casual fan will help us get better prices. Yes, at times it can be infuriating, being in line with knuckleheads that don't know what they're doing, get a voucher and use one of the selfservice machines.

BTW Playboy has been trying to get their fingers in the gambling pie for decades and have been rebuffed by officials in Nevada and other venues time and again.

Regards,

bdhsheets

[Observer]

Thanks to those who have looked at my side of this arguement objectively and backed me up, coming away with the same feeling as me.

Guys, I'm not trying to take your fun away. Strip clubs, porn, girly mags, while I don't like them, that's not my arguement here. It's simply a matter of what's best for the game.

Women make up too much of the population to even consider making a choice that would turn them away. Throw families into it, and you're losing even more. The image of the game needs to be changed, and adding Playboy is a change in the wrong direction.

[Larry Hamilton]

I see we have ALMOST gotten to the crux of the argument. Most recent comments deal with whether Playboy is good for the game.

I do not believe a big business such as owning a horse racing track would willy-nilly make a decision like partnering with Playboy without at least CHECKING the decisions effect on the bottom line. And even if they do, it is their business.

Lest we forget, Playboy is a legally published magazine, the only reason not to partner with Playboy or any Legal Porn is the bottom line. For those who say it is legal but immoral, is gambling in general immoral? Can you play slot machine anywhere? Are they in the 7-11 on the corner? Why not? Because some forms of gambling seems to be acceptable and some are not...Damned if I can understand that logic. how about the NASDAQ?

My point is this: the mentioned partnership is neither illegal nor is it immoral in ALL eyes. And as no one has the facts to support this decision as BAD, where's da beef?

[Observer]

Da beef is in the fact that they are alienating a big part of the population in their decision. Sure, it's their decision and businesses can merge or join with whomever they choose, so long as it's legal. Sometimes, though, what businesses choose to do is not in the best interest of the industry as a whole.

From an overall perspective, the racing game is already perceived as sleazy. It is a game which has been trying to attract more women and become more family oriented. This move certainly undermines that mission. Geez, I feel like I'm a broken record.

Obviously there are two distinct views on this issue and we could all go on and on relentlessly. As I said earlier, I appreciate those guys that looked at my arguement objectively.

[Tom]

Frankly, I don't want racing to be family oriented-nothing
worse than a bucnh of screaming, un-watched children running around the track bothering everyone. If you are too yonng to vote, stay outof the track. I don't to the playgrounds and open up my racing form on thier teeter totter.
I think the associatioin of PlayBoy and Penn is for INTERNET gambling-I don't think playmates will be serving hot dogs at the track. If your family thinks sitting around the computer for an evening of fun and gambling is fun, bless you, but the nice thing about internet gambling is that is something I can do when I want, as long as I want. Maybe a couple at Penn tonight, one at Mountaineer later, maybe catch a Hong Kong race if I can't sleep. Then drop ever to nakednews.com for the weather report (kidding <G>).
Point is, I want the game to go in the direction that suits me, and I don't care if women or families get involved, just leave me alone. You guys can have the track-give me the internet. There is room enough for everyone's idea of racing. Mine doesn't include children.
(Just an afterthought, why aren't people as concerned about exposing thier kids to gambling as they are about maybe seeing a Playboy ad?)
Tom

maybe

[Observer]

Tom,

My very first visit to the track was when I was 6-years-old. While I have seen some kids basically abandoned at the track while the parents gambled all day long, I certainly had fun going with my parents and brothers, and we made several outings a year. As you can see, I'm still very much a racing fan.

On my outings to the track, I see families all the time having fun in the backyard at Belmont, Aqueduct and especially Saratoga. There is no good reason to push these people out. Women and kids flood Las Vegas year in and year out, and you don't see anyone concerned about the kids and gambling there.

Obviously, no matter what direction a change goes in, there will always be people who don't like it. If you don't like women and kids at the track, what do you care...stay at home at your computer and let the families go to the track. The track's attendance goes up, the handle still grows and everyone is happy.