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There are several things about the wagering game that are shoved down the average player's throat that for the life of me has never made sense.
First, let's talk about pool composition. Explain how the 15% takeout is an average player's weapon against the CAW players. Is the increase in handle with the lowered takeout being dominated by CAW plays that are increasing the handle while taking more from the small player?
Second, let's talk about wagering sources. Celebrating that TVG is at the table selling the low takeout double wager on their broadcast is like inviting the wolf to the henhouse - TVG is a tax on the game, no different from the CAWs themselves. Explain the value-add of FanDuel/TVG who will drop horseracing in a New York second if they can make more from sports. Honestly, if FanDuel/TVG would disappear tomorrow, would it matter? Handle would shift to platforms that more directly contribute to track purses.
Third, let's talk about handle. Why are average players constantly being beaten over the head with numbers about "the size of the pools"? Those numbers are the racetrack's business along with ADW partners; nothing about those numbers impacts the average player. If I told you that a double pool was $200,000 as opposed to $150,000, what difference does it make? Yes, increased handle generates more purse money which is good for the game, but it is Keeneland's job to market the difference, not mine to monitor it. Exactly what does the average player get from a larger handle?
So, the headline is lower takeout rate. Excellent news.
How about a sliding scale of takeout rates as the pool size grows? Suddenly, betting more matters and the average player has a reason to care about pool size?
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