Paradigm Shift

[DeanT]

Excellent piece by John.

http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/2008/07/racing-needs-paradigm-shift.html


I started frequenting the Paceadvantage.com message board several years ago. I noticed a constant increase in the level of dissatisfaction among horseplayers because their needs were being ignored -- mainly by the racetracks. The main complaint is that it is impossible to bet on every track from one account deposit wagering company.

If we really want to sweeten the pot then we should embrace the betting exchange paradigm shift. Horseplayers have. I'm sure ADWs are interested in running betting exchanges. Horsemen would welcome the revenue. I know racetracks would welcome the revenue. Come on, what are we waiting for? Bankruptcy? Slot machines?

[highnote]

Excellent piece by John.

http://blog.horseplayersassociation.org/2008/07/racing-needs-paradigm-shift.html


Is there any way to make news posts more prominent for at least a day or two?

As soon as the next post comes in the previous post gets knocked down.

Why go to all the work of writing an article if no one is going to see it?

I'm not just saying that for myself -- the same goes to anyone who takes time to write an opinion and post it. I'm sure they would like to have people read it and get some feedback.

[DeanT]

Hey John,

Catch 22. The blogging world depends on fresh content, so it is paramount. But the best writings are also highlighted in a couple of ways: Mainly at the side, or linked to in the next article. Notice the HANA news article references your post.

After we get several articles we can have a "reading room" link on the side of the page. So far Indulto's article on Whitfield, yours and the article on takeout have action. We highlight all of those. Also, when someone links to a story, it is linked to the whole URL. We see those come in on the site. For example, here is a link to your article from a blog:

http://pullthepocket.blogspot.com/2008/07/wow-betting-exchange-in-1998.html

This blog links to your url, not the homepage.

Also, Paulick Report linked to Indy's piece with that unique url. It is kind of the way it works.

We should have one story every day or two. The news that Hana is making at the bloodhorse is the top story, so using that today is pretty important, imo.

[highnote]

Hey John,

Catch 22. The blogging world depends on fresh content, so it is paramount.
We see those come in on the site. For example, here is a link to your article from a blog:

http://pullthepocket.blogspot.com/2008/07/wow-betting-exchange-in-1998.html

This blog links to your url, not the homepage.

Good point



We should have one story every day or two. The news that Hana is making at the bloodhorse is the top story, so using that today is pretty important, imo.

Agreed BH is important. Maybe once the website is up and running we can have more of a newspaper format than a blog format. The website can display headlines and a few paragraphs from an article with a link to the full article.

[DeanT]

"Featured Post at HANA" is more prominent and near the top. I placed a few of our stories in there. Jeff P's, Indy's etc.

[highnote]

I may add a line or two to the Paradigm Shift piece. I meant to write that tracks, Horsemen, ADWs and Horseplayers are all putting their ingredients in the pot, but we're not getting good results no matter how we change the recipe. Not sure if that idea came across.

So what is needed is a completely new ingredient -- something outside the box. This new ingredient needs to be a paradigm shift. Something so radically different and new that there is a lot of excitement surrounding the change.

I always felt a betting exchange is just what racing needed -- as long as tracks and horsemen could figure out a way to profit from it.

Betfair, to my knowledge, does not share the betting handle with U.S. tracks and horsemen. That may have changed, but if so, it's only recently.

This is one reason tracks have been reluctant to allow betting exchanges.

Las Vegas doesn't give a portion of its sports betting handle to the NFL, either. But people actually find the NFL interesting to watch even if they're not betting on it.

[Charlie D]

Hi John

Betfair, to my knowledge, does not share the betting handle with U.S. tracks and horsemen.


I do believe Betfair are currently in negotiations with the Calafornia racing authorities regarding these issues

Annyway, though it's only a small amount imo. In UK, Exchanges, bookmakers contribute part of thier profit to the Levy fund (more info here http://www.hblb.org.uk/)


If US racing can broker a better deal ie: racing gets the big slice of the cake and say the Exchanges, bookmakers etc get say 10% for offering their service then i think racing may be onto a winner

[DeanT]

John, adding fuel to your thesis, this just out (thanks to Cangamble for pointing it out)

http://pullthepocket.blogspot.com/2008/07/betfair-wants-more-harness-racing.html

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Betfair Wants More Harness Racing (http://pullthepocket.blogspot.com/2008/07/betfair-wants-more-harness-racing.html)

Yessirre, you read that right. Someone wants to offer more harness racing. I have not lost my marbles. I don't think the moon is made of green cheese. Thanks to Cangamble (http://cangamble.blogspot.com/2008/07/betting-on-thoroughbreds-down-11-since.html) for pointing this Harnesslink.com (http://www.harnesslink.com/www/Article.cgi?ID=65662) piece out.

Almost $175,000CDN was bet on a rather non-descript harness race at Kempton.

Betfair is calling for harness racing to be staged on the four Sundays in 2009 with no televised racing fixtures following the success of the first harness race at Kempton on 16 July.
Tony Calvin from Betfair told H&H: "Our expectations were minimal — but as it turned out more than 1,000 people placed bets on the harness race.



"We were completely taken unawares. There is definitely potential if it is supported by one of the horseracing channels. It could provide a new interest for the racing fraternity and certainly gets our backing."

Another lesson in the growing list of lessons we should have learned long ago: Distribute your product, allow people to see it, give them an interesting low price way to play. And they play.

[highnote]

I'm all for betting exchanges, but only if they help fund racing.

Professional sports like football, basketball and baseball don't rely on betting to support the game. However, one could argue that betting does increase interest in those sports by some people.

For example, when two teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons play in the last game of the season and it has no playoff implications, who cares about the game except for the bettors?

So betting can actually serve some purpose.

I suppose you could make the argument that betting on U.S. races on betting exchanges benefits U.S. racing indirectly by raising awareness of U.S. races. It's a weak argument, but probably somewhat true.

In my opinion, betting exchanges would better serve the industry and themselves by resolving issues and clearing barriers that keep them from becoming legal in this country.

Also, I have a problem with one UK betting exchange because they never refunded my money after they decided to no longer allow accounts of U.S. citizens.

[DeanT]

Get off the US racing hat, dammit with all these responses :D

It was a UK race and they funded the purses with the betting.:ThmbUp:

[Charlie D]

Distribute your product, allow people to see it, give them an interesting low price way to play. And they play.



Spot on, do the horsemen, tracks etc do this??

Nope, Talk about shooting yourself in the foot

[Charlie D]

It was a UK race and they funded the purses with the betting.:ThmbUp:


Happens all time, UK bookies also sponsor races

[highnote]

I'm not saying betting exchanges never fund purses. I'm just saying they should ALWAYS fund purses.

Now, I'm going back to vacation and not replying to any more messages until vacation is over! :ThmbUp: :D