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[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by DGroundhog

I would agree the industry is failing, but I believe it is because younger people would rather sit at a slot machine and push a button rather than invest (how long?) time into becoming an educated horse player.

Even if their chances of winning is greater playing horses than slots or the lottery - slots or lottery is a dumb play that any imbecile can win.

The biggest problem is attracting younger fans more interested in mindless gaming with bells and whistles and OMG there is an ELLEN slot machine I can play!

I would advocate race tracks cater more to the sports betting crowd. Get every MMA or boxing PPV fight, fantasy football crowds - all that. Throw up some horse racing signals, offer an analyst and maybe a 'group play' sort of format so people can just ride along the coat tails of somebody who knows the game and might hit a decent payout once in a while.

Marketing can go a long ways.

I think the widespread popularity of online poker and fantasy sports proves conclusively that the "younger fans" aren't just interested in the mindless games like the slots and the lottery. The young people of today are willing to seriously apply themselves towards a challenging form of "gambling"...assuming that they find such a game APPEALING. The fact that the younger population currently shuns this game is a testament to their gambling-intelligence and maturity...IMO. Horse racing, in its current form, isn't a game that's worth serious study and time-commitment. The young people's efforts are better served elsewhere.