Racing helps slots, but needs promotions

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has released its third annual Pari-Mutuel Benchmark Report that details the impact of slot machine play on the state's pari-mutuel horse racing industry. One of the most notable findings: In 2009, the average daily gross terminal revenue generated from slot machine gaming at horse and harness racing facilities was 15.27% higher on racing days vs. non-racing days, or $629,510 on racing days vs. $546,046 on non-racing days.

 

Also, the chairman of the Gaming Control Board said there needs to be more promotion of live horse racing in the state.

 

The report states that live horse racing handle in the state decreased by 2.54 percent from $79.5 million in 2008 to $77.5 million in 2009.

 

Greg Fajt, chairman of the Gaming Control Board, said the report clearly demonstrates that the introduction of slot machine gaming at Pennsylvania race tracks has produced some positive results, but it also shows a numbers of areas that need improvement.

 

"No one can doubt that the injection of hundreds of millions of dollars from slot machine play into the horse racing industry has rescued tracks from closure and saves thousands of jobs," Fajt says.  "At the same time, some amendments to the Gaming Act approved this year by the legislature recognize the importance of promoting the racing industry by requiring each horse racing track to report how they plan to promote live racing, and increase both the live handle and daily attendance at the licensed racetrack on a yearly basis."

 

The full report can be downloaded from a special link on the right hand side under the "Information" section on the homepage of the Gaming Control Board's web site, www.pgcb.state.pa.us.