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From what I've seen, I certainly agree.
Saturday at Laurel dawned chilly, but clear and -- in the sunshine on the apron, particularly -- quite pleasant despite highs of only around 40 degrees.
And not very many people attended.
I'm having a hard time confirming what the attendance really was. Which is a shame, because if I'd known that I would want to report the number and would not be able to readily find it, I'd have just walked around between races and counted everybody.
Where I'm going with this is, a facility with gambling already taking place on-site -- a race track -- also happens to be, on an average winter Saturday, quite sparsely patronized. That suggests there's plenty of usable space on the property and in the grandstand area that could be converted to alternate gaming. And more than enough parking in the lot to accommodate slot-players.
It certainly makes as much sense (or more) to locate slot machines at Laurel than it does to develop a new, freestanding slot parlor in the Arundel Mills Mall area, which is presently the leading plan. Laurel management on Wednesday was set to detail about 20 permit approvals received in the past few years -- ranging from environmental studies, to road-widening plans, to a master sketch submitted the county -- that help illustrate Laurel's readiness to move forward.
The Anne Arundel County Council is expected to vote Dec. 21 on rezoning that would facilitate the Arundel Mills Mall location planned by the Cordish Companies.
The slots issue in Maryland is already mismanaged and behind schedule. Management of Ocean Downs, a harness track on Maryland's Eastern Shore, recently conceded that construction issues won't permit its slots parlor to open in late May next year as expected. And a contract for another proposed site in Maryland's western mountains only garnered one bid, and that bid was disqualified.
Advocates say the Maryland horse racing industry could receive up to $100 million a year once the state finally gets all five of its planned gaming locations under operation. The slots don't have to be located at tracks to benefit horsemen. And there is some disagreement over whether the Arundel Mills location might eventually prove to generate more revenues.
But if Maryland is wanting to get those one-armed bandits in action quickly,
The Chief writes:
ReplyDeleteAdvocates say the Maryland horse racing industry could receive up to $100 million a year once the state finally gets all five of its planned gaming locations under operation.
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Every piece of salesmanship from slots-proponents should be taken with a grain of salt.
What's in it for them?
As long as they're throwing six digit numbers out there to the public, I'll throw one out myself: Maryland Racing could eventually gain $500 million if the states lowered their takeouts to than 10% across the board - permanently. Voila! The solution !!
Think of it. Wagering bargains everywhere.
Maryland Racing would be instantly revitalized and would boast a newly found national simulcast audience that has interest in HORSE RACING - not dropping quarters through machines.
And everyone knows the VLT business once saturated in the region, is less likely to be the solution for all that ails thee in American horse racing.
There's a rally tomorrow (Saturday) pro-slots at Laurel and against the one at shopping mall in Anne Arundel county:
ReplyDeleteThe weather should prevent a decent turnout.
http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001PxvKDHU1N4ocJWH4mOETFk1ck6JdO2TypG6aRPJqo9BXPkEUQbfeZYebV59pLVFK_UH6CqWCTxmKQV431HSwkXLTiKZReWo_ybJSBljfUqDHf4zejt6WpaAj51T_Luh_
To be clear, from a MD horseman's perspective, no one who knows anything thinks that slots are the "solution for all that ails thee." However, when every competing state in the region has slots, Maryland finds itself fighting with both arms tied behind its back -- a pretty tough place to be. Slots level the playing field -- which is necessary -- providing time and space to make the ultimate fix.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, we have MEC to thank for, apparently, losing a game that was rigged so that they would win it. Don't be surprised if LRL isn't long for this world.
Laurel's obviously the right place for the Anne Arundel County slots palace, and all the bidders in the bankruptcy auction for Laurel and Pimlico -- which is set for January 8th -- want to reopen the process and get the slots away from Arundel Mills (except possibly Arundel Mills developer Cordish, which is also bidding for the MD tracks. Lots more on the Maryland issue on my blog: http://businessofracing.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteFrank wrote:
ReplyDeleteSlots level the playing field --
which is necessary --
providing time and space to make the ultimate fix.
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I agree with the "level-playing field" aspect.
But horse racing has never put "the ultimate fix" as one of the industry's top priorities.
Not if but when the slots novelty wears off in a oversaturated gaming region, the tracks are going to fall like dominos. It's inevitable in 3 to 4 years.
Something's got to crash before it starts to do things correctly. So in that spirit..
The sooner the better.