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Things That Make You Go Hmmmm (12)

Ramblings about pari-mutuel takeout rates, handle, slots, data, and whatever else.

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Move by Ontario Premier Blow for Racing

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Oct. 15 that he will be stepping down as leader of the province and will also prorogue the government until a new leader for the Liberal party can be named.

Survey Shows Support for Woodbine Casino

A poll commissioned by Woodbine Entertainment Group indicates a majority of the Toronto, Ontario, residents surveyed oppose locating a casino downtown, and that slightly more than half support a full-scale casino at Woodbine.

Voters OK Slots at Florida Barrel Racing Site

Voters in Gadsden County, Fla., Jan. 31 approved a ballot issue that authorizes a casino with slot machines at Gretna Racing, the Gretna facility that completed the first pari-mutuel barrel racing meet in Florida.

Illinois Governor Nixes Slots at Tracks

IIlinois Gov. Pat Quinn has turned thumbs down on slots at the state's race tracks, saying that would be too much expansion of gaming in the Land of Lincoln.

Prospects Brighten for Slots at IL Tracks

Odds seem to be improving that Illinois race tracks will get the slot machines they say are needed for their very survival.

Mass. Slots Bill to be Debated Sept. 26

The top Republican lawmaker in the Massachusetts Senate is hoping revenue from expanded gambling will be used to lower taxes.

Illinois Senate Approves Racetrack Slots Bill

The Illinois Senate May 31 gave final legislative approval to a sweeping expansion of gaming in Illinois, including authorization for slot machines at racetracks.

Illinois House Approves Racetrack Slots

The Illinois House May 30 passed legislation that would permit slot machines at the state's race tracks as part of a dramatic expansion of gaming around the state.

Slots Votes in the Works in Texas

Two Texas politicians filed legislation March 3 to allow Texas voters to decide whether to allow slot machines at existing horse and Greyhound tracks along with federally recognized Indian reservations.

'Slot Money Will End' - By Gary Fenton

The solution is and has 
always been about building
 a better product to
 a new generation.

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Interests Say They Had Votes for IL Slots

Illinois racing interests say they had enough votes to pass a slots-at-tracks bill this week and some say they were sold out by measure's sponsor in the waning hours of the legislative session.

Purse Cut Pain at Calder

Overnight purses will be cut at Churchill Downs Inc.'s Calder Casino & Race Course

Slots, Poker Changes for Calder, Gulfstream

The countdown to July 1 and long-awaited new Florida rules on slot machines and poker has ended for Calder Casino & Race Course and for Gulfstream Park.

Slot Legislation Push On Again in Illinois

Arlington Park president says the track will go out of business without slots.

Crist, Seminoles Agree to Compact

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and leaders of the Seminole Tribe of Florida said April 6 that they have agreed to a Gaming Compact for the Seminoles' seven casinos in the state.

KY Racing Industry: Still Hope for Slots

When Republican Jimmy Higdon soundly defeated Democrat Jodie Haydon in the special state Senate election Dec. 8, it signaled challenging times ahead for Kentucky's horse industry.

Aqueduct Casino Said Down to Final Three

Negotiations for an Aqueduct casino operator have stepped up again, with a new flurry of talks between Gov. David Paterson and legislative leaders occurring in advance of a return by the state legislature the week of Nov. 16 to deal with New York's soaring deficit.

Aqueduct Bidders Asked Again For Final Offers

The six bidding groups vying for the Aqueduct casino rights have been asked to submit their "final" offers -- again -- to the state of New York, along with a new promise for a large and quick payment.

NY Gov. Meets on Aqueduct Casino Project

Gov. David Paterson and New York legislative leaders met behind closed doors Oct. 29 in Manhattan to try to resolve the selection of an operator for the long-stalled Aqueduct video lottery terminal casino project.

PA Study: Negative Impact of Table Games

A study commissioned by the Pennsylvania Equine Coalition contends that the introduction of table games at Pennsylvania casinos and racinos will result in a decline of slot machine wagering of between 8% and 13%, potentially resulting in a decline in state revenues.

Florida: Crist moves bill to Seminoles' court

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed a gaming bill June 15 that contains several changes sought by the state's Thoroughbred industry and some changes in the operations of the Seminole Tribe of Florida's casinos.

Casino on the Horizon at Calder

The number 35 was on almost everyone's lips on June 3 when Calder Race Course broke ground for a casino it plans to open next January on its property in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Racinos Defied 2008's Declining Gaming Trend

Even though overall United States casino revenues dropped for the first time this decade, domestic racinos registered double-digit percentage growth in 2008, according to a report issued May 18 by the American Gaming Association.

Pennsylvania Horsemen React to Gaming Bill

The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association responded May 14 to legislation introduced in the state that would permit video lottery terminals at additional venues. The state's racing purses have grown considerably in the past few years with revenue from slots at the racetracks.

CDI: We're Rebuilding Racing, but Need Slots

Despite growth in its online pari-mutuel wagering and Louisiana slots operations, the top executive of Churchill Downs Inc. said May 7 the company is not ignoring its racing properties, but needs legislative help to keep them viable entities.

Deadline Approaches on Florida Gaming Issues

The Florida Legislature will end its annual regular session May 1, and as of April 28 the House and Senate had not resolved major gaming issues including whether the Seminole Tribe of Florida should be able to keep blackjack and baccarat tables at its casinos.

Florida Slots Amendment Suit Dismissed

An almost five-year-old lawsuit over how Florida voters were allowed to decide if slot machines could be legal at certain state pari-mutuel facilities has been jointly dismissed, according to court records.

NY Officials Scramble for Aqueduct Bids

As state officials in New York scrambled to re-group following the collapse of the Delaware North plan to build a casino at Aqueduct racetrack, at least one of the former bidding groups said it would be interested in making a new bid on the long-stalled project.

CDI Confident in Derby Sales, Slots Plan

Churchill Downs has seen some weakness in ticket sales for its annual Derby-Oaks weekend extravaganza, but feels there is enough interest in the events to produce another strong showing for the racetrack company.

CDI Reports Profit Despite Handle Drop

Profits from continuing operations at Churchill Downs Inc. grew 71% in 2008, the company reported March 4, despite handle drops at all of its racetracks.

Maryland Challenges MEC Lawsuit

The state of Maryland is challenging Magna Entertainment Corp.'s claim that the state's slots bidding process is unconstitutional.

MEC Files Suit over Rejected Slots Bid

Magna Entertainment Corp. has filed a lawsuit over its rejected bid for a slots license in the state of Maryland, and is asking a state circuit court to grant injunctions stopping the process from going forward until its legal challenges have been resolved.

PNGI 'Not Enthused' About Maryland Slots

After absorbing a $378.6-million loss in 2008's fourth quarter alone, Penn National Gaming Inc. posted an annual loss of $153.3 million for the year, and said while it isn't "enthused" about developing a potential new slots facility in Maryland, it will pursue those plans.

CDI: Quietly Positioned for Growth

Churchill Downs Inc. said Nov. 6 it is in a position to grow in various gaming areas, but is mum about what possible ventures might be considered in the future.

Order Sought to Halt 'Compact' Gaming

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum on Sept. 19 asked the National Indian Gaming Commission to issue a temporary order to shut down the blackjack and baccarat tables and Class III Las Vegas-style slot machines at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Slots Revenue Agreement OK'd for Calder

Churchill Downs Inc. and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association announced Sept. 10 that they have reached an agreement on a contract for future slot machine revenue at CDI-owned Calder Race Course.

Florida Slots Bills Die as Session Ends

The Florida Legislature ended its annual two-month session May 2 without passing two slot machine bills that were sought by the Thoroughbred industry.

Passage of Florida Slot Bills in Doubt

As the Florida legislature prepares to end its annual session May 2, chances appear very slim that it will pass either of two slot machine bills being sought by the Thoroughbred industry.

Track Owner Boosts Stake in MTR Gaming

Jacobs Entertainment Inc. and its affiliates have recently increased their overall stake in MTR Gaming Group, a move that follows a January announcement that the owner of Colonial Downs was shifting its focus towards facilities that feature multiple forms of gaming.

Commentary: Let's Get Fiscal

By Richard Zwirn - While not an economist, it was clear that these are difficult fiscal times. Costs for just about all goods and services have risen dramatically.

CDI: 2007 Challenges, 2008 Opportunities

Churchill Downs Inc. is asking for patience in seeing financial rewards from what it termed an $80 million investment into the advance deposit wagering industry in 2007, and promises to act on opportunities for the company's progress in 2008.

Gulfstream Dismisses Tribal Casino 'Suit

Gulfstream Park has voluntarily dismissed a federal lawsuit that sought to block slots being installed in casinos operated by Florida Indian tribes, saying it will await the outcome of a similar Florida Supreme Court action.

Ellis Park Owner Vows to Battle On

Ron Geary said he is facing a myriad of economic pressures in making Ellis Park a viable operation, but the owner of the Henderson, Ky., racetrack vows to fight the challenges with every resource before he considers closing the facility.

Report: De Francis to Resign MEC Post

Joe De Francis will shortly resign as a member of the Magna Entertainment Corp. board of directors, according to a published report.

Area Growth Could Impact Revenue

Wall Street analysts agree Pennsylvania's racetrack casinos have generated higher-than-expected revenue thus far, but growth in the market, both in state and out, could impact those numbers going forward. Thus far, slot machines around the state are producing an average win per machine of $307. There are 11,500 slots, about a quarter of the total that could be operating when all gaming halls are open in the state.

Gulfstream Challenges Tribal 'Pact

Gulfstream Park has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a compact allowing tribal casinos to offer Class-III slots and banked card games in Florida, the latest attempt by the track to curb gaming competition from neighboring wagering facilities.

MTR Gaming Pleased with Table Games

MTR Gaming Group said Jan. 16 its Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort reported about $3 million in revenue from table games and poker since the full ramp-up of table-game operations in late December.

The Meadows Changes Hands

The parent company of the The Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Pennsylvania, which is operated in part by former owner Magna Entertainment Corp., has been sold for $1.75 billion to an Australian entity, it was announced Dec. 12.

Illinois Proposal Calls for Slots

After months of bitter political infighting and under the looming threat of a Chicago-area mass transit meltdown, Illinois lawmakers moved close Dec. 10 to a sweeping expansion of gaming that would include authorization for slot machines at racetracks.