Youbet.com, Louisiana Downs Have Marketing Agreement

Youbet.com and Harrah's Louisiana Downs have joined forces on a multi-year program that will make the online wagering company the official wagering provider for the Bossier City, La., racetrack.

Louisiana Downs patrons will be encouraged to sign-up for Youbet.com accounts through on-track signage and videos, ads in daily racing programs, point-of-sale promotions, and online programs at the track's Web site. Youbet.com will promote racing from the track to its account wagering customers with double "Youbet Advantage" points for wagers placed on races every Thursday and Friday on Louisiana Downs races this year and next.

The points can be redeemed for prizes ranging from large screen televisions to trips to sporting events such as the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, the Masters, and the NCAA Final Four. High-volume players will get cash rebates.

Youbet.com will feature Louisiana Downs content in targeted customer e-mails and mobile phone text messages. The company will deploy marketing resources to help promote on-track business, and the two companies intend to produce a series of online handicapping contests with cash prizes culminating with the Super Derby (gr. II), the track's marquee race.

"We believe we can grow our business by leveraging our content in the online channel," said Mark Midland, vice president of racing operations for Louisiana Downs. "Youbet is where the largest share of the online market is congregating to watch and wager on horse racing. So it makes a lot of sense for us to use their channel to target handle growth from new, young, and active racing fans from all over the country."

"We've said all along that Youbet is a conduit to growth markets for tracks that want to seize the opportunity to mine our customer base for new and sustainable sources of handle," Youbet.com chief executive officer Charles Champion said. "We're delighted to have the opportunity to prove the point by putting our online marketing expertise to work for a highly respected content provider like Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

"With this agreement, Youbet will be taking Louisiana Downs content and presenting it to customers not as a passive broadcast option but rather as a powerful, fully integrated marketing proposition that offers a true horse racing experience with handicapping, wagering, live broadcasts, instant replays and attractive player rewards."