With that new revenue from added gaming providing tracks some money and improving purses, one would have expected such tracks would have used the opportunity to try some new approaches to strengthen their core product, pari-mutuel wagering. ...
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Sometimes it's worthwhile to just look at all the places the pari-mutuel dollar goes in racing. With that in mind, I've returned to the well-done California Horse Racing Board annual report for fiscal year 2015-16, which breaks down where every pari-mutuel wagering dollar goes in the state. Of the $2.9 billion wagered on California racing in the fiscal year, $2.3 billion, or 79%, was returned to winning...
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While wagering on U.S. races in 2016 was flat—up less than 1% compared with 2015— bettors continue to support a reduced Thoroughbred racing product. That is to say average handle per U.S. race in 2016 improved 2.3% to $280,408, which is the first time since 2007 that wagering per race has surpassed $280,000. The $280,408 in average wagering per race is up 18.2% from the decade-low $237,135 wagered...
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In late November, in a move done in large part to protect horseplayers at advance-deposit wagering companies, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved a rule that would require ADWs that operate in the state acquire a bond of up to $500,000 as a condition of licensing. The new requirement should provide added protection for Kentucky ADW customers—as well as the state—should an ADW declare bankruptcy...
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