Long Island OTBs Are Getting Federal Corona Money
 

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/...ppp-1.47563042

Maybe I should have put in off topic. These were, at least at one time, patronage mills.

I'm in the minority, but I think there's still a role for OTBs and simulcast centers in the game. People can bet on their computers from home or on their phones from anywhere, but some people enjoy hanging out with friends and other horseplayers from the area. They stop playing without that option. The problem is you can't pay betting clerks close to $25 an hour, $50 an hour on Sunday, and give them generous pension and healthcare benefits while they are working for a manager that's making close to 100k a year with OT. The economics won't work out well. That and all the other patronage jobs and deals are why NYC OTB went bust.

I think it would be a great idea to keep OTBs open, at least some. There were 2 a short lunch time walk away that were always crowded. Probably not sophisticated CAW money either lol.

Whoever says that the OTBs should remain open obviously hasn't visited one in the last couple years or so. The gathered groups there are smaller than anyone could imagine...and about 75% of the patrons don't even bet. They are just hiding from their wives. Keeping those places open wouldn't make economic sense even if all the employees there were paid below minimum wage.

I don’t know about the rest of the country but in NY most of the local OTBs were just social clubs at the end.. All the older guys used to just hang out . It gave them someplace to go. Occasionally they would make a $2 bet.

I know what you are saying. It's clearly not a growth industry.:lol:

I spent a lot of time in every branch in Queens and some time in Brooklyn and Manhattan before NYC OTB was closed. Many were an obvious drain. Others were packed every day and handled a lot of money. You surely don't need the kind of branch system that existed before the internet and phone betting. But I think a few restaurant/bar OTBs in the right locations would still handle good money.

The Belmont Cafe picked up some of the OTB money from eastern Queens and took some business from Nassau County OTB. AQU picked up some of the OTB players in the Crossbay Queens area, but a lot of people dropped out because they had nowhere to go. The demographics are still such that some people don't bet by phone or computer.

:ThmbUp:

Yea, it's not a 'McDonald's' that you can slap on every corner, but there is a market for it.

Of course, these type of businesses (or any type), has to actually have a goal of profitability and legitimacy.

(and w/ Covid-19, - any still-existing? or planned locations are going to have a tougher time. More power to them, if they get approved for a $).

Like everyone else on PA, I've been to some nice OTB's and some dumps. Location and management unsurprisingly play a big role in the quality and experience.

:lol:

Memories - Early 70s, lived in Deer Park (Suffolk County) and used to drive to the Bellerose OTB on Jericho Tpke. (Jamaica Ave.) to make bets. This was before Suffolk OTB started up.

Then, in the 80's and early 90's I frequented the Deer Park OTB with occasional trips to the Hauppauge Teletheatre, which was pretty nice.

The two near me, were run by Hollywood Casino, both pretty nice. Decent food, sparse crowds, except TC weekends and Br. Cup. It wasn't unusual for the help on weekdays to outnumber the patrons. One youngish guy (40ish) used to come in with NorCal Greg's picks all handwritten on a piece of paper. It was definitely an interesting, diverse crowd during their heydays. Both closed for good now.

I live halfway between Bellerose branch and the Little Neck branch. Everyone wanted to work at the Little Neck branch. It's a nice neighborhood and there were some HUGE bettors there at it's peak. The clerks there used to make a lot of money just off tips. I was still going to the Race Palace once in awhile until a couple of years ago, but I heard it was empty prior to Covid etc..

The Little Neck branch was on Northern Blvd., right? Think I visited there a few times. Sounds like you're in Glen Oaks.

Yes on Northern Blvd & Little Neck Pkwy. That spot is now home to something called the Genius Education Center, how's that for irony.

Yes and yes. ;)