Churchill instant racing machines not quite ready for prime time

[Jeff P]

Bloodhorse article by Frank Angst|Nov 1st 2018
Kentucky Regulator Threatens Halt of Derby City Gaming:
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/230454/kentucky-regulator-threatens-halt-of-derby-city-gaming

KHRC says machines improperly include races with scratched horses.

After determining the historical racing machines at a new Churchill Downs Inc. facility improperly include races with scratched horses, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has fined the operator $1,000 a day and is considering shutting the machines down until the problem is resolved.

In an Oct. 26 letter to Churchill Downs racetrack, KHRC executive director Marc Guilfoil said that the commission has imposed the fine for every day the facility has been open since Sept. 10—which would be around $50,000—to licensee Churchill, because its Ainsworth Game Technology brand machines used at the Derby City Gaming facility in Louisville are improperly including races with scratched horses in determining winning payouts.


You'd like to think something like this would have been caught in early testing, or at the very least, BEFORE going live.

Ugh.


-jp

.

[Fred Mertz]

I was at Ellis Park several years ago in their gaming parlor. I asked a worker how those racing machines related to horse racing. He stuttered and mumbled.


You see three horse names for about 1.5 secs. They're slot machines.


I'm surprised the guy could read their names to know they were scratches. Probably a bible thumper.

[baconswitchfarm]

It is just a way to not call it a slot machine. On a high note, I heard the Churchill machines were killing it.

[ReplayRandall]

It is just a way to not call it a slot machine. On a high note, I heard the Churchill machines were killing it.

High note for who??..

[ultracapper]

I was at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno about a month ago and they had one of those machines going. About 8 or 10 guys sat around playing. First time I'd ever seen it. It may have been a different game than it sounds like you're all talking about. It didn't seem like the re-running of an old race. It was a computer generated horse race. All the players were betting on the same event. A race went off every 2 or 3 minutes it seemed, with win, place, and exacta seeming to be the only betting options.

[jay68802]

High note for who??..

This could not be intentional, could it?

[Tom]

Horse racing is just not suited to anything technical.
Like electricity, running water.......racing peaked at weather vanes.


:sleeping:

[Big Russ]

You'd like to think something like this would have been caught in early testing, or at the very least, BEFORE going live.

Ugh.


-jp

.[/QUOTE]


I really wish I could say I was surprised.

[098poi]

Horse racing is just not suited to anything technical.
Like electricity, running water.......racing peaked at weather vanes.


:sleeping:


They still got that guy blowing the bugle so that's a plus.

[Tom]

They still got that guy blowing the bugle so that's a plus.

There is a kazoo inside!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kASNz0LQMfo

[ReplayRandall]

There is a kazoo inside!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kASNz0LQMfo
I know who's kazoo that is....Bet you can guess...:eek:

[AlsoEligible]

I was at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno about a month ago and they had one of those machines going. About 8 or 10 guys sat around playing. First time I'd ever seen it. It may have been a different game than it sounds like you're all talking about. It didn't seem like the re-running of an old race. It was a computer generated horse race. All the players were betting on the same event. A race went off every 2 or 3 minutes it seemed, with win, place, and exacta seeming to be the only betting options.

Yeah, the computer generated races are a different game. Maryland has it too, but it's completely associated with the lottery, and has no ties to the racing industry. As far as I know the results are totally based on RNG, which makes it a game of chance.

The "historical racing" or "instant racing" machines are different. They're dressed up to look just like a slot machine. If you sit down in front of one, you can't tell the difference.

But behind the scenes, and before you hit the "spin/play" button, a race has already been pre-selected from a database of like 10k-20k historical races from a variety of tracks.

Hidden down in the menu, you can actually see handicapping information on that race - obviously no identifying information like the track, date, runner/jockey names, etc. Just the number of runners, and basic information like how often each one has ended up in the money, speed ratings, etc.

If a player wanted to, they could use that information to actually pick 3 runners (as if making a WPS bet), and then play. The reels spin, a little window pops up showing the end of that race and the order of finish, and the machine pays out accordingly.

Of course no one bothers with that, and everyone just hits "play" over and over again, like a regular slot machine. Which is no different than making a quick-pick bet at a racetrack terminal. But the fact that the player has the option to handicap is how they can successfully argue that the machines are games of skill instead of games of chance.

[ultracapper]

And let me guess, the annual handle on one of those machines is better than the annual handle at a mid-Atlantic track.

[ubercapper]

And let me guess, the annual handle on one of those machines is better than the annual handle at a mid-Atlantic track.

Judge for yourself. These are public records.
http://khrc.ky.gov/reports/2018-06-Pari-Mutuel%20Wagering%20Report.pdf

For the first six months of 2018, Total handle was $1.09 billion in the state of Kentucky. The net after return to the customer, taxes and other fees was $68 million (6.28%).



Ellis Park handled $7 million in June, Keeneland/Red Mile (Lexington) $23.5 million, Kentucky Downs $68 million.

I haven't seen any reports from Derby City Gaming (The Churchill Downs/Keeneland site in Louisville) yet but considering the population of Louisville compared to Lexington they should be handling $40-50 million a month in no time.