'Racinos' make horse sense to many in gaming industry
Gambling is something horse racing and casinos have in common, which is like saying scoring goals is something ice hockey and soccer have in common. The difference between the two is like day and night.
The ability to wager, however, is the sliver of commonality which has united racing and casino entertainment. Eleven horse racing states have active "racinos," combined race tracks and casinos. In many other states, including Illinois, it's a hot legislative topic.
Proponents of racinos argue that horse racing's future is dependent on its successful partnership with casino-style entertainment. Racing purists disagree, saying the distinctive charms and appeal of the sport will assure its survival.
Horse racing gets the spotlight on the gambling stage this weekend, both locally and nationally, with today's opening of Arlington Park's 96-day thoroughbred season and Saturday's 134th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Arlington is a member of the Churchill Downs Inc., family of race tracks, which includes a racino operation, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, in New Orleans.
Gaming companies also have capitalized on the racino phenomenon and are aggressively seeking to expand their horizons. Harrah's Entertainment, owner of Harrah's Joliet and Horseshoe Casino Hammond, operates Louisiana Downs Casino & Racetrack in Shreveport, La. Penn National Gaming, which owns Empress Joliet and Hollywood Aurora, has several racino operations around the country. Boyd Gaming, owner of Blue Chip Casino Hotel in Michigan City, Ind., and Par-A-Dice in Downstate East Peoria, runs Delta Downs Race Track, Casino & Hotel in Vinton, La.
Much of what the racing industry has done to sharpen its competitive edge is to emulate casino marketing techniques. Arlington has the Twin Spires Club, through which bettors earn points and other perks by swiping a players card every time they place a wager. There's even a Senior Spires Club for those age 55 and over.
Arlington is blazing new gambling frontiers by announcing last week it would be one of the first tracks in the United States to introduce cashless wagering for the 2008 season. Guests may purchase an "Arlington Cash Card" with any value they choose and use the cards in any self-service terminal to wager via an account.
Horse racing is even showing more imagination from a gambling perspective. Arlington, for instance, will be the first track in Illinois to offer the High-5 wager, which requires the bettor to correctly select in exact order the first five finishers in a designated race. If there's no winner, the pool will carry over to the next scheduled High-5 race, creating the potential for a casino-style progressive payoff.
John Brokopp is a local free-lance writer.
