2002 - Harness Tracks of America, Inc.

HARNESS TRACKS OF AMERICA
Executive Newsletter
A daily fax and e-mail report on racing and gaming developments in North America and beyond
Stanley F. Bergstein, Editor
CAL TELEPHONE WAGERING
Interesting advance deposit wagering figures from
California. Through July 6, $66.3 million had been
bet through ADW, representing 5.7% of total California
wagering of $1.1 billion since January 25.
California residents bet $28.2 million, or 42.66%
of the ADW handle, through TVG; $21.2 million,
or 32% of the total, through Magna
Entertainment’s XpressBet; and $9.4 million, or
14.2% of the total, through Youbet.com. Out of
state residents bet $3.5 million, or 5.4% of the total,
on TVG; $519,136, or 0.78% of the total, on
XpressBet; and $3.3 million, or 4.96% of the total,
on Youbet.com. Out-of-state betting was
11.13% of ADW.
IN CANADA, A PARADE OF $$$$
The eight years from 1992 to 2000 produced some
remarkable numbers in Canadian gambling. A
survey by Statistics Canada shows that the
government’s revenue from gambling, which was
$2.7 billion in 1992, had risen to $10.7 billion by
the end of 2000, and presumably continues to rise
with the addition of new venues. Of the $10.7 billion
two years ago, $6 billion was profit, up more
than three and one-half times over eight years
earlier. Casinos accounted for 32% of the gambling
revenue in 2000, lotteries 30%, VLTs 25%,
and slots outside casinos 13%. The average gambling
expenditure for every person 18 or older in
Canada in 2000 was $424 (Cdn) For the purposes
of the report, numbers from pari-mutuel wagering
were tabulated separately.
AN INVOLVED COMMISSIONER
It’s refreshing when a racing commissioner gets
involved with media in a positive way. It also can
be productive. Ed Rogers is a proactive
member of the Pennsylvania Harness
Racing Commission. He struck up an acquaintance
with Mary Klaus, a reporter for
July 19, 2002
the Harrisburg Patriot-News, and invited her to a
fair harness meeting at Gratz, PA. The result was
a huge story with big color pictures, covering half
a page on the front page of the B section of the
July 15 Patriot-News, and another third of the back
page of the section, with a large black and white
photo, under a headline reading “Streaking to the
finish line” and a subhead, “Gratz Fair harness
event called slice of Americana.” Ironically, the
headline at the top of the page, referring to a
smaller story on mass baptism, appears at first
glance to have a connection with the four-column
color photo of a horse turning for home below. It
reads, “Following Jesus’ example.” Good score,
Commissioner Rogers, and thanks!
THE WOLF WITH NINE LIVES
That could only be one wolf: Frank Wolf, Republican
of Virginia, who refuses to die despite defeat
after defeat in Congress. His most recent resounding
loss came Wednesday, when the House killed
his latest fiasco, calling for a national commission
to study Indian gaming, by a vote of 273-151. One
Congresswoman, Shelley Berkley, a Nevada
Democrat, said she voted against the bill because
it came from Wolf, and that she is suspicious of
any gambling related legislation he proposes. “He
is looking for the worst aspects of gaming, and
when the National Impact Study Commission report
did not yield the results he wanted, he thought
he would try a different approach and this is it,”
Rep. Berkley said.
Rep. J. D. Hayworth, an Arizona Republican, led
the opposition to the Wolf measure, saying there
already have been 73 federal studies of Indian
gambling, including six requested by Wolf.
YESTERDAY’S QUIZ ANSWER
We did not intend it as a mystery quiz, but we made
it one by omission. The writer who made the leap
from USTA expatriate to executive editor
of Sports Illustrated is Charlie Leehrsen.
Sorry about that.