Question(s) for those who play NJ OTW's......

[onefast99]

do you prefer an OTW that is on a major highway like Favorites in Woodbridge NJ or would you go off the beaten path to get to an OTW if one was closer to you? For those who have been to Favorites would you prefer a "food court" type food vendor as opposed to waitress service and the McLoones restaurant set-up? Thank you in advance for the responses!

[Canarsie]

do you prefer an OTW that is on a major highway like Favorites in Woodbridge NJ or would you go off the beaten path to get to an OTW if one was closer to you? For those who have been to Favorites would you prefer a "food court" type food vendor as opposed to waitress service and the McLoones restaurant set-up? Thank you in advance for the responses!

I would want one closer to me and I might go. Favorites is so crowded I haven't been there in a couple of years now. Even though McCloones has excellent food I have never eaten at the Woodbridge location. The restaurant there is out of its league with the clientele also screaming and yelling. Who in their right mind would want to eat in an atmosphere like that?

If you are lucky enough to get a seat its a nice touch that they will bring food or drink to you. But who wants to go there an hour or more before post time just to take a chance.

If your doing this for the horsemen please tell them I wrote a letter asking why there isn't free past performances for at least those betting at Monmouth. They didn't have the decency of giving me a reply so they have lost a wagering customer at Monmouth. Its a shame they get my money anyway from NJBets wish I could go somewhere else.

Do I sound dissatisfied? When one doesn't answer me even with a reply of f**k off I get awfully testly and belligerent. Someone at Cablevision recently did almost the same thing but at least they took $80 off my bill.

[RunForTheRoses]

I've only been to Favorite's Toms River. It can get pretty crowded especially on the weekends and the time of the month when the SS checks come in. The food is so so, in fact pretty basic and mediocre. The bar is fine though, if you get there early enough and get a seat with a TV...not a bad way to spend the day.

[RunForTheRoses]

NJbets does suck in that they will not rate you based on internet bets which are 90% of my action. And as far as I know we still cannot go out of state.

[TBred17Roan]

I go to Favorites in Woodbridge but only mid week as it is less crowded. I have eaten in the restaurant and it well away from the main simulcast area. Not a place I would go to frequently. As it is close to me I have no complaints but if one was closer of course I would rather go there. When I first started going to Favorites there used to be regular waitress service at the tv booths. Lately there is less and less. I would prefer a food court if available. The bar is fine but usually crowded. All and all its a great place to go midweek at night.

[onefast99]

Thanks for the responses thus far. I would imagine most would like a foodcourt type of setting rather than a sit down fancy restaurant like McLoones.
As far as getting rated for betting that is something that should be addressed. As many of you know the horseman are trying to get the OTW's as well as the internet betting under control and based on what many have said it seems as if the NJSEA really didn't have a clue whatsoever on the rewards system. Hopefully things will change but it will not happen overnight. Good things come to those who are patient!

[onefast99]

I would want one closer to me and I might go. Favorites is so crowded I haven't been there in a couple of years now. Even though McCloones has excellent food I have never eaten at the Woodbridge location. The restaurant there is out of its league with the clientele also screaming and yelling. Who in their right mind would want to eat in an atmosphere like that?

If you are lucky enough to get a seat its a nice touch that they will bring food or drink to you. But who wants to go there an hour or more before post time just to take a chance.

If your doing this for the horsemen please tell them I wrote a letter asking why there isn't free past performances for at least those betting at Monmouth. They didn't have the decency of giving me a reply so they have lost a wagering customer at Monmouth. Its a shame they get my money anyway from NJBets wish I could go somewhere else.

Do I sound dissatisfied? When one doesn't answer me even with a reply of f**k off I get awfully testly and belligerent. Someone at Cablevision recently did almost the same thing but at least they took $80 off my bill.

On another note how did you get so much off your cable bill?

[TBred17Roan]

Good things come to those that are patient!

Does that mean someday NJ residents will have a choice on which out of state wagering system that they can use?

[Canarsie]

On another note how did you get so much off your cable bill?

It was only a one time deal. They took off $15 monthly and the $80 because of their incompetent employees who were recorded on voice mail. I don't take stuff like that lightly and spoke to higher ups.

Same deal with the horsemen there was no reply. So I'm not going to Monmouth because they don't care. Two or three years ago Brisnet gave away free pp's from Monmouth. I did very well there last year even finished 16th in the contest. Its not the cost of the program its their greed as a monopoly that bothers me to no end.

[onefast99]

Does that mean someday NJ residents will have a choice on which out of state wagering system that they can use?
It is so complicated with the signal etc etc it would take me a week to explain. The system needs an overhaul that is a given.

[Bennie]

I go to Favorites at Woodbridge on most Sunday's and also Saturday's when there is a concert, college football, or other major event at the Meadowlands. Favorites is 15 minutes away and saves me almost $10 with the gas prices today and the tolls on the Turnpike, not to mention wear and tear on my vehicle and the stress of driving thru all the construction going on on 78. I usually go to the Meadowlands on Saturdays because I have several friends I hang out with. Otherwise, I would go to Favorites or play from home.
I myself have never used the food service at Favorites and don't usually stay for any extended period of time. I try to make my bets early and then just relax and watch some races before leaving. I am not one for sitting around for an hour before the first race goes off and don't usually find a seat because of that but that is my choice. Several times I have parked at the complete opposite end of the strip because there is no where else to park if you don't get there before 12:00.
I would probably go to another facility if it were close just to compare services but if they were to build several others throughout the state it might ease the attendance at Woodbridge and I might just keep going there.
They tried to get one put up off 22 in Greenbrook but the politicians shot it down complaining of the increased traffic it would create. Can't blame them for that because 22 sucks already, but I could have walked there.

[NJ Stinks]

I don't care where they put the OTB, just get one up and running in my neck of the woods. That means anywhere near where Garden State Park was. I'm sick of paying deposit fees to NJ Bets when using my debit card. (And it's too time consuming and costly fuel-wise to make the drive to Freehold worthwhile just to deposit money.) Why can't NJ Bets let us deposit money directly from our checking account, Onefast99? Everybody else accepts money from my checking account! It's 2012 for crying out loud. :bang:

The food at Favorites in Woodbridge is OK. I've never been in their restaurant. I only go there maybe 5 times a year when I'm in the area.

[johnhannibalsmith]

... I'm sick of paying deposit fees to NJ Bets when using my debit card. ...

Geeeeez, after years of reading in off-topic about the great pride you take in paying as much as possible to various government entities, I figgered you'd be calling for more and higher fees. :cool:

[affirmedny]

I don't care where they put the OTB, just get one up and running in my neck of the woods. That means anywhere near where Garden State Park was. I'm sick of paying deposit fees to NJ Bets when using my debit card. (And it's too time consuming and costly fuel-wise to make the drive to Freehold worthwhile just to deposit money.) Why can't NJ Bets let us deposit money directly from our checking account, Onefast99? Everybody else accepts money from my checking account! It's 2012 for crying out loud. :bang:

The food at Favorites in Woodbridge is OK. I've never been in their restaurant. I only go there maybe 5 times a year when I'm in the area.

You can deposit money directly from your checking account via ACH. The problem is it's not instant. Look in the "fund account" tab.

[Mike_412]

I mainly play from home, but do go to Favorites once or twice a month to meet up with a buddy for some gambling and drinks. I'd be more apt to frequent one off a major highway just due to the ease of getting there. I'm between 157 and 159 off the Parkway. Shooting down to 130, jumping on 1 to the next light and swinging around to Favorites is simple. If it was off the beaten path, we'd probably meet somewhere more convenient to be honest.

I'd be more interested in a food court type setup provided it was good quality. If it was like the old setup near the program stand on the paddock level at the Meadowlands, I wouldn't be interested. I wouldn't feed that stuff to my dog. I don't really have a problem with the waitress type setup now to be honest. They could just use a few more waitresses when it's busy though.

A rewards program through NJBets would be very wise. I was told in the past from a pretty high ranking official at the Meadowlands that Freehold/Greenwood having a stake in NJBets is what was holding up a basic rewards program. That the Meaodwlands and Monmouth wanted to institute one, but Freehold/Greenwood were the ones relenting. Whatever the case may be, it'd be in everyone's best interests to establish one moving forward. Customers being taken care off and horsemen making more money in the long run. It's a win/win for all involved.

I'm not sure what goes into the placement of the OTW's (distance from racetrack, government issues, etc.), but has there been any thought of having one up 17 near the Ramsey area? There's some money being lost from people in the area that aren't into account/telephone wagering when they want to make a bet. They take the 5-10 minute ride across the Jersey/New York border and hit one of the OTB's over there rather than make the trek to the Meadowlands which can be 30 minutes easy depending on time of day and traffic.

Do you have an idea what's going on with exchange wagering being that it was approved and signed into law January of 2011. I haven't heard a thing about it since. I assumed that ownership of the racetracks was holding it up, but do you have any updates on it? In the long run, that's going to be another win/win for all involved. Emphasis on the long run though.

Best of luck and thanks for asking for the opinion of horseplayers.

[Robert Goren]

NJ is an interesting experiment with the horsemen taking the running of the tracks. They did that here about 4 years ago. Once the horsemen figure it out, the place improved by leaps and bounds and the handle has made small increases the couple of years. It nows is in the place where it could continue for a few years except the land owner, UNL, want to use the land for something else. There is a plan for a new track but money to build it is a problem. It is not making the kind of money that would change UNL's mind yet. That would take another ten years and some more major changes, but the track doesn't have those ten years. It is amazing to see the change in attitude of the horsemen when they were put in charge and knew what they said and did effected their bottom line. I am cautious optimistic that since the horsemen in NJ have put in charge of their own fate that they will make the needed to changes to turn that state's racing program around. A year ago, somebody like onefast99 would not have been asking about what horse players thought about anything. They were too busy pushing for casino money as their savior. The change is refreshing. I hope NJ doesn't pull the plug on them before they have a chance to make it work. I have every confidence that a state like NJ can run a self sustaining race track system. Good Luck, to onefast99 and anybody else connected to NJ racing.

[onefast99]

Well said Robert, the handout by the AC casinos was a mistake there are smarter people running the show now and eventually NJ racing will be back to par with their counterparts!

[RunForTheRoses]

Has anyone ever been to the standalone OTW (that is no affiliation with NJBETS) in Vineland?

Regarding the N Jersey area/Ramsey, that would be a great area to put an OTW in. Many in that area probably just go to Suffern.

[Pine Tree Lane]

Has anyone ever been to the standalone OTW (that is no affiliation with NJBETS) in Vineland?

Regarding the N Jersey area/Ramsey, that would be a great area to put an OTW in. Many in that area probably just go to Suffern.

Wa at the Vineland shop Preakness day last year. Pretty crowded but lines moved quickly, food was pedestrian but not bad. The issue there is the neighborhood is sketchy.

It's a ten minute drive to Freehold so I deposit, head home and play. Food there is ok as well.

[ALL CIRCUITS GO]

yes, NJBETS is the only game in town, and we can't go anywhere!

NJbets does suck in that they will not rate you based on internet bets which are 90% of my action. And as far as I know we still cannot go out of state.

[NJ Stinks]

Geeeeez, after years of reading in off-topic about the great pride you take in paying as much as possible to various government entities, I figgered you'd be calling for more and higher fees. :cool:

Please note that politically-based comments are not welcome in this neck of the woods, Sir John. :2: che!

[NJ Stinks]

You can deposit money directly from your checking account via ACH. The problem is it's not instant. Look in the "fund account" tab.

Thanks, Affirmedny.

The not instant part is a big problem for sure.

[johnhannibalsmith]

Please note that politically-based comments are not welcome in this neck of the woods, Sir John. :2: che!

True, but then we'd have to delete the longest running thread on the top page here in this section... :D

[Vinman]

I spoke to one of the managers at Favorites whom I'm friendly with on Monday night and I asked him how they did on Derby Day. He said it was their best day EVER in terms of betting handle. This includes all Kentucky Derbys and Breeders' Cups since they opened in Woodbridge in October of '07.

In fact, he said they came very close to having to stop letting people into the place at around 5:30....an hour before the Derby. They've never had to do that, but it almost happened. Anyone who's been to Favorites on Derby or BC day has seen the Fire Marshall there to eyeball the head count & keep things safe. I'm sure he wouldn't have been very "safe" himself had he put up the "no mas" sign....lol.

He & I got into talking about future NJ OTW sites. His top two picks are Flemington and Northeast Bergen county. I think a site near the Sheraton Mahwah off 287 would be perfect. That massive parking lot was supposed to hold a shopping mall that was never built. Plenty of room....but of course it makes far too much common sense to tap into all the Rt. 287 & Rt. 17 potential customers passing right by.

We talked about the aborted plan to build an OTW at the old Saturn dealership on Rt 22 in Green Brook that was shot down by the town. He said the law has actually been changed so that NJ towns can no longer invoke the "Not in my backyard" home rule thing. So theoretically it could pass if proposed again. Meadowlands is opening their Bayonne OTW in July.

Anyway, it was nice to hear from at least one source that betting on horses is indeed alive and well when the occasion is right.

Vinman

[onefast99]

I spoke to one of the managers at Favorites whom I'm friendly with on Monday night and I asked him how they did on Derby Day. He said it was their best day EVER in terms of betting handle. This includes all Kentucky Derbys and Breeders' Cups since they opened in Woodbridge in October of '07.

In fact, he said they came very close to having to stop letting people into the place at around 5:30....an hour before the Derby. They've never had to do that, but it almost happened. Anyone who's been to Favorites on Derby or BC day has seen the Fire Marshall there to eyeball the head count & keep things safe. I'm sure he wouldn't have been very "safe" himself had he put up the "no mas" sign....lol.

He & I got into talking about future NJ OTW sites. His top two picks are Flemington and Northeast Bergen county. I think a site near the Sheraton Mahwah off 287 would be perfect. That massive parking lot was supposed to hold a shopping mall that was never built. Plenty of room....but of course it makes far too much common sense to tap into all the Rt. 287 & Rt. 17 potential customers passing right by.

We talked about the aborted plan to build an OTW at the old Saturn dealership on Rt 22 in Green Brook that was shot down by the town. He said the law has actually been changed so that NJ towns can no longer invoke the "Not in my backyard" home rule thing. So theoretically it could pass if proposed again. Meadowlands is opening their Bayonne OTW in July.

Anyway, it was nice to hear from at least one source that betting on horses is indeed alive and well when the occasion is right.

Vinman

Your friend is right about the "not in my backyard" law but unfortuneately it is a little late for that site on rt 22 west in Greenbrook as it is now a Harbor
Freight Tools store. Eventually another Favorites will get built as future sites are being discussed now.

[cobraz41]

I think they need an OTW site in Mercer County. I bet NJ loses a ton of money from people going to Parx. I for one can't stand going to Parx, but when it comes down to the shortest distance from the Mercer County area Parx is the answer. Build an OTW in Mercer County and I will not cross that state line.

[onefast99]

I think they need an OTW site in Mercer County. I bet NJ loses a ton of money from people going to Parx. I for one can't stand going to Parx, but when it comes down to the shortest distance from the Mercer County area Parx is the answer. Build an OTW in Mercer County and I will not cross that state line.
Cherry Hill has been looked at. Hopefully something gets done there as many go to Parx and the Turf Club OTW's of Pa.

[Vinman]

Cherry Hill has been looked at. Hopefully something gets done there as many go to Parx and the Turf Club OTW's of Pa.

Yes....and the fact that many Jerseyites cross over into PA to wager at Parx and the Turf Clubs is precisely why the owners of those facilities have done everything possible to drag their feet in any and all efforts to build an OTW in Cherry Hill. I believe they are part of the ownership of the Vineland OTW and Freehold Raceway as well.....and Aycee Racecourse. I thought there was going to be a lawsuit over this, but I haven't heard anything about it recently.

I've also long wondered why NJBets Accounts don't earn the same wagering "points" as BigM Club Members until I read a recent post here that the Philly based partners don't want that. Why? They don't want to see any business diverted from their Philly Phonebet operation. Of course Jersey folks are not allowed by law to have Philly Phonebet accounts....but there probably some that still do. In any case, there is zero incentive for the Philly based partners to do anything that will help NJ racing if it will take away business from them that they keep 100% of.....as opposed to having to share it with NJ.

Does anyone know the status of that supposed lawsuit over the Cherry Hill OTW or has the whole thing rolled over and died?

Vinman

[NJ Stinks]

Last time I googled it, Vinman, was a about a year ago. I think an article came up from the Courier-Post dated at least 5 years ago that was the latest I could find.

How NJ lets all that money go to PA year after year is beyond me.

[jldonah]

I don't care where they put the OTB, just get one up and running in my neck of the woods. That means anywhere near where Garden State Park was.

Who knows how many millions in handle go to the other side of the Delaware between DelPark, Parx, the Philly Turf Clubs, Chester etc? Wouldn't take much--you can't throw a rock without hitting a bartender in Gloucester City, but be ready for the rock back. A little OTB wouldn't cause a ripple.