Could Racinos Cure Problem?

The Meadows Racetrack & Casino and Hoosier Park have both announced their slots plans this week, and some people are concerned about the effect that the additional slots will have on the states of Pennsylvania and Indiana. The Meadows are located in Meadow Lands in Pennsylvania, and Hoosier Park is located in Anderson, Indiana, but they both want the same thing – slots.

The Meadows would like to add, when completely finished, 3,000 slots, a hotel, etc. Hoosier would like to add up to 2,000 slots and 90,000 sq. ft. to their existing structure. However, people want to know what good adding slots to a business that is faltering is going to do. They think that slots are meant for the casinos, not for tracks.

Instead of adding slots to an existing business, why not market the heck out of the business you already have. They say that instead of adding the slots and making it into something that it isn’t, they keep the slots out of it and work on increasing visitors to the harness racing tracks.

They want to see people educated in how the tracks run, show them how to bet, show them how exciting a harness race can be – instead of offering them slots where they will undoubtedly come just for the slots and not even watch the races. At this point, why do you have a track? Why not just close up the track and bring in a casino with those slots – because that is all they are really doing. They need to instill a love of the sport to a new generation, not just give them something else to occupy their time.


 

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