Promises of Help Could Backfire

With the possibility of the passage of House Bill 1835, Hoosier Park could be looking at 2,500 slot machines at their racetrack. The park believes that with the addition of slot machines at the racetrack that they will be able to turn around their finances, and offer larger purses at the track. With Indiana Downs’ opening in 2002 in Shelbyville, the track already felt the competition taking a bite of their profits.

The track started losing business to Indiana Downs, and estimates have the amount they lost at $24 million – which was more than the track could handle. The track believes that with the addition of the slot machines to their revenue stream, that they will be able to get back on track again, and adapt to a new sort of clientele. They think the slot machines will bring in a larger demographic than that which they are currently getting from racing alone.

They are planning on making changes to the track in addition to the addition of the slot machines. They also are planning on alternating their seasonal race schedule so that they are not directly competing with Indiana Downs, which they think will help them in the long run as well. However some are concerned that the “help” they will be getting from the slot machines will in fact, end up hurting the racing industry even more.

They say that with online gambling what it has become, people can play the slot machines in the comfort of their own home, and thus racing should be left to race fans. They say that people will come to play the slot machines and not watch the horses. They believe that the slot machines will end up being a distraction from the real reason why people are coming to Hoosier Park. However, officials say that without the slot machines there won’t be anything to be distracted from.



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