Casinos deemphasizing horse racing in sports betting areas

[westernmassbob]

Two of the biggest casinos in the country located in Connecticut ( Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun) have redesigned racebooks that totally downplay horse racing. This was not the case for the past two to three decades. They had beautiful racebooks which only accommodated parimutuel wagering until last year when sports gambling was approved in Connecticut. Now the newer sports books totally deemphasize horse racing. I find it odd because there is plenty of horse racing going on when live sports games are few and far between. This especially holds true on weekdays and during the day. It also is concerning because a racebook manager told me that the “ take “ or net profit on parimutuel wagering and sports wagering is virtually the same. Anywhere from 6-10%. I get more money overall is bet on sports games but why downplay the horse bettor ? Also has anyone else noticed this throughout the country ? Especially Vegas ? BTW I also remember Atlantic City use to have an OTB in every casino then most shut down. What about now ? You would think sports betting and horse racing would go hand in hand .

[Al Gobbi]

ADW’s (along with the decline of horse racing) have sadly made race books redundant

anyone know how the race books at Foxwoods and Mohegan look like now? Planning a trip to Connecticut next month.

[westernmassbob]

Originally Posted by Al Gobbi

ADW’s (along with the decline of horse racing) have sadly made race books redundant

anyone know how the race books at Foxwoods and Mohegan look like now? Planning a trip to Connecticut next month.

You make a good point however ADW’s are available for sports betting as well. My main observation here is that the sports book rooms ( Mohegan and Foxwoods ) have diminished horse racing to a fraction of the viewing areas. If your going to these casinos to bet on horse racing the experience is sub par to what it used to be. Just incredible.

[tbwinner]

Horse racing in Vegas books has become quite a goner. Circa the new downtown mega book doesn't show any that I've seen and Wynn maybe had 3 or 4 screens running last month. Supposedly Southpoint still has good things going for the horseplayer.

[v j stauffer]

Originally Posted by westernmassbob

Two of the biggest casinos in the country located in Connecticut ( Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun) have redesigned racebooks that totally downplay horse racing. This was not the case for the past two to three decades. They had beautiful racebooks which only accommodated parimutuel wagering until last year when sports gambling was approved in Connecticut. Now the newer sports books totally deemphasize horse racing. I find it odd because there is plenty of horse racing going on when live sports games are few and far between. This especially holds true on weekdays and during the day. It also is concerning because a racebook manager told me that the “ take “ or net profit on parimutuel wagering and sports wagering is virtually the same. Anywhere from 6-10%. I get more money overall is bet on sports games but why downplay the horse bettor ? Also has anyone else noticed this throughout the country ? Especially Vegas ? BTW I also remember Atlantic City use to have an OTB in every casino then most shut down. What about now ? You would think sports betting and horse racing would go hand in hand .

Not at Oaklawn.

We even have kiosks and designated sports betting windows in the horse racing grandstand.

Oaklawn has a GREAT Casino.

But horse racing will ALWAYS be our number one priority!

[westernmassbob]

i just did some research on Atlantic City. There are several casinos but only 1 yes that’s right only 1 has horse betting. I mean c’mon there are still a lot of couples in their 70’s and 80’s who go to the casino and while the wife plays slots the hubby plays the horsies. No doubt this has decreased quite a bit but to totally not have the product available at a casino is just odd. Why the sport wagering and parimutel can’t coexist makes no sense to me.

[castaway01]

Originally Posted by westernmassbob

i just did some research on Atlantic City. There are several casinos but only 1 yes that’s right only 1 has horse betting. I mean c’mon there are still a lot of couples in their 70’s and 80’s who go to the casino and while the wife plays slots the hubby plays the horsies. No doubt this has decreased quite a bit but to totally not have the product available at a casino is just odd. Why the sport wagering and parimutel can’t coexist makes no sense to me.

If you ever go to the thread about NJ sports wagering and you glance at the hundreds of millions of dollars in sports betting revenue the Meadowlands and Monmouth take in, your questions about why casinos don't care about 85-year-olds betting on horse racing will be answered.

And while I know it's not your point, that view of what's happening in a casino is very 1985-ish. Those old people stopped going to Atlantic City and/or died years ago (in some cases both), which is why half the casinos closed in 2014-16.

[BarchCapper]

Originally Posted by v j stauffer

Not at Oaklawn.

We even have kiosks and designated sports betting windows in the horse racing grandstand.

Oaklawn has a GREAT Casino.

But horse racing will ALWAYS be our number one priority!

I've seen the windows, but not the sports betting kiosks in the horseracing grandstand. I'll have to look harder this weekend.

I'll also say that it's been my observation this year that fewer TVs throughout the casino are showing the live races than used to be the case. Not a big deal if there's lots of live games going on - but when I see sports blather channels on every other TV *INSTEAD* of our own live racing - that disappoints me.

[proximity]

Originally Posted by westernmassbob

i just did some research on Atlantic City. There are several casinos but only 1 yes that’s right only 1 has horse betting. I mean c’mon there are still a lot of couples in their 70’s and 80’s who go to the casino and while the wife plays slots the hubby plays the horsies. No doubt this has decreased quite a bit but to totally not have the product available at a casino is just odd. Why the sport wagering and parimutel can’t coexist makes no sense to me.

as a fan of atlantic city, i actually agree with this at least for bally's and borgata.

when bally's moved the poker room to the wild west i have no idea why they discontinued racing because when the poker/horse room was up that big escalator the horse section always seemed to get good use and many weekend days all the seats were marked "reserved"..... always a big pet peeve at casino horse books.

borgata's is bigger but also it always seems difficult to find a seat?

maybe bally's will do something again now that it is on its own??? idk??

personally i'd like to see ocean dedicate 2 or 3 tvs to major league basics like nyra, nj, and maybe kentucky and hong kong. the boardwalk needs some racing!!

jmo as an ac fan and patron.....

[Tom]

If they focusing less on racing, it is because the money tells them to.

This is based on revenue. Racing will get no handouts anymore.
If it can't sustain itself, it will go away.

When you sitting in a sportsbook trying to plat GP and you keep seeing turf races with times, that NBA line starts looking better and better.

[westernmassbob]

Originally Posted by Tom

If they focusing less on racing, it is because the money tells them to.

This is based on revenue. Racing will get no handouts anymore.
If it can't sustain itself, it will go away.

When you sitting in a sportsbook trying to plat GP and you keep seeing turf races with times, that NBA line starts looking better and better.

No doubt a good observation. During the week however most sports betting opportunities come at night. There are all these huge sports books showing replays of games when they could be featuring live horse racing. Call it a loss leader at the casino but horse racing is far from down and out.

[SandyW]

Originally Posted by tbwinner

Horse racing in Vegas books has become quite a goner. Circa the new downtown mega book doesn't show any that I've seen and Wynn maybe had 3 or 4 screens running last month. Supposedly Southpoint still has good things going for the horseplayer.

All Station Casinos locations in Las Vegas & Henderson have very large Race and Sports Book with Giant Screens and hundreds of seats with private TV's at each seat for your viewing. All the racing you can stand from dawn to night time.

[westernmassbob]

Originally Posted by SandyW

All Station Casinos locations in Las Vegas & Henderson have very large Race and Sports Book with Giant Screens and hundreds of seats with private TV's at each seat for your viewing. All the racing you can stand from dawn to night time.

Saw this response kind of late and hope you catch mine. So I have often wondered this because it’s been just over 15 years since I visited Vegas. Seeing I am first and foremost a horse and sports player I was wondering what the best place to stay at was these days? Looking for near or on strip and I’m unfamiliar with the Station casinos. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !

[SandyW]

Originally Posted by westernmassbob

Saw this response kind of late and hope you catch mine. So I have often wondered this because it’s been just over 15 years since I visited Vegas. Seeing I am first and foremost a horse and sports player I was wondering what the best place to stay at was these days? Looking for near or on strip and I’m unfamiliar with the Station casinos. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !

This website will tell you everything about Station Casinos:

https://www.stationcasinos.com/