Report: No slots for you, NJ

[point given]

A little brewhaha in new joisey, pre BC. Leaks of a report that says no to slots at the Big M and an $80 million / 3 year payoff by AC casinos for purse supplements, just like the last 4 years. Impeccable timing.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071011/NEWS/710110418/1004/NEWS01

[trying2win]

In my opinion, it's sad that horse racing today has become so addicted and dependent on slot machine revenue. Makes me wonder...how did racetracks prosper in the good ol' days before slot machines?

Smart people gamble on slot machines. Dumb people gamble on slot machines. Wise people don't gamble on these machines, because they know with a house edge on every bet, and if they are a steady player, it is impossible to make a profit on them over the long run.


T2W

[Robert Fischer]

I remember when NBA basketball was not so popular. Even in the 70s, the NBA was no where near the business success it is today.

Instead of marketing itself on national television,:bang: the NBA went the smart route... - they gave their buddies contracts to put in a rubber floor in half the arenas, and they set out to run BINGO contests in all arenas!

Thank goodness HorseRacing has taken note and is following this BLUEPRINT for success.:mad:

[Zman179]

A little brewhaha in new joisey, pre BC. Leaks of a report that says no to slots at the Big M and an $80 million / 3 year payoff by AC casinos for purse supplements, just like the last 4 years. Impeccable timing.

This shouldn't come as a shock. Everyone in New Jersey knows that Atlantic City isn't giving up casino-type gambling without a fight to the death.

[jma]

This is no surprise at all. Not even controversial, really. There is no one with a financial stake in the matter---AC casinos, the future NYC casinos, PA casinos, all of whom lobby legislators and groups that make these decisions---who would be in favor of slots at the Meadowlands, except for those in charge of the Meadowlands. It would be like the NYRA approving a new thoroughbred track 15 miles from Saratoga to run a thoroughbred meet at the same time. No one is going to vote to create more competition for themselves.

[njcurveball]

This is no surprise at all. Not even controversial, really. .


Exactly what most NJ residents are thinking. I can understand the once or twice a year players, but a steady diet of pushing a button and puffing on a cigarette has to get old, doesn't it?

Losing the breeders is much more eye opening. NJ racing is in a downward spiral even with the happy face they are putting on for the Breeders Cup.

I make it even money that thoroughbreds are out of the Meadowlands by 2010.

[point given]

NJCURVEBALL -

" Losing the breeders is much more eye opening. NJ racing is in a downward spiral even with the happy face they are putting on for the Breeders Cup.

I make it even money that thoroughbreds are out of the Meadowlands by 2010."

Bold statement there,:eek: , as they have been reducing racing days for years. The meet is very weak, with too many short fields and short prices, except when you get a $45 horse to win and a $20 place horse and the exacta comes back $289. :rolleyes:

That said, it may linger on, as yonkers has larger purses from what i've read and the better standard breds are now racing there instead of the Big M. So they arenot as strong a push to get the Tbreds out. Si / No ?

[Milleruszk]

With only 384 Thoroughbred foals this year, it looks like there will be very few horses standing in those open green spaces that NJ politicians like to talk about. The casino lobby has bought all of the NJ politicos, so do not expect to ever see a slot machine outside of AC, unless it is owned and operated by their interests. Not that slots are the salvation of racing, but if neighboring states are using them to increase their purse structure NJ must follow suit.
Therefore, I expect NJ TB racing to continue its downward spiral.

[alhattab]

This is no surprise at all. Not even controversial, really. There is no one with a financial stake in the matter---AC casinos, the future NYC casinos, PA casinos, all of whom lobby legislators and groups that make these decisions---who would be in favor of slots at the Meadowlands, except for those in charge of the Meadowlands. It would be like the NYRA approving a new thoroughbred track 15 miles from Saratoga to run a thoroughbred meet at the same time. No one is going to vote to create more competition for themselves.


Not sure what you mean- they are already creating competition for themselves. Harrahs has a stake in something like half of the casinos in AC, and they put a slots parlor about half the Big M distance to AC in Chester, PA. I think AC knows they are in a better position if they just kill off racing rather than have slots at Meadowlands, so that's what they are doing. A 3 year deal does nothing but create more uncertainty, and we all know that breeders are at least on a 5 year horizon. AC can afford to play the waiting game and see more and more horse farms sell off, rendering the "open space" argument moot as there will be little left to protect. I'm sure us residents would expect nothing different from our scumbag politicians who only serve those that pay them off.