NYRA released their January numbers along with comparisons to the same month last year, when NYC OTB handled some $15.8 million. The total off track handle was down $28.8 million. The total "on-track" handle on NYRA races, which includes wagering at Aqueduct (where daily average attendance was up 44% to 4,510), Belmont Cafe, phone, and internet wagering, was up $3.6 million, just a small slice of the off-track loss.
However, if you include the on-track wagering on simulcast signals (on which NYRA retains a comparable share as on its own races), then things get pretty interesting. According to numbers I got from NYRA, that figure was up to $33.47 million in January, from $21.4 million in 2010, a gain of just over $12 million. That's around 41% of the $28.8 million in off-track handle lost, exceeding the 35% that NYRA had indicated it needed to break even. These are back of the envelope calculations on my part....may be missing something, but it would seem as if NYRA is at least in the ballpark here. And an impressive gain of 113% in total internet plus phone wagering (NYRA + Simulcast), from $3.5 million to $7.48 million, comes despite the fact that NYRA has still not secured agreements to live stream races from many major tracks (Tampa and Sunland were up this past weekend), nor yet commenced wagering from Yonkers. So I think there's certainly potential for more growth there. I mean, I'm just chomping at the bit for some live Gulfstream, Fair Grounds, Oaklawn, and Santa Anita racing on their NYRA Rewards site. This is certainly the right time of year, with a virtual blackout on TVG in effect.
- Catching up a bit, if you missed it late last week, the Oneida tribe introduced this ad below in opposition to the Stockbridge-Munsee tribe casino proposed by former Governor Paterson. (Click here if the embed below is not working for you.)
The new governor is said to have not taken a definitive stance on the casino. Of course, his opinion may not matter, as the casino would have to ultimately pass muster with the feds.
The U.S. Department of the Interior must give final approval, which as of this past week, appears to be on shaky ground. State Sen. John Bonacic, R- Mount Hope, met with Interior Department officials in Washington and came away from the session with “negative vibrations.” [Daily Freemen]
3 Comments:
NYRA's numbers might be better than it appears.
There were two FEWER racing days at Big A in 2011, 19 down from 21, so a 9.5% decrease in total on track handle should be expected.
This would not effect the simulcast handle of course, but the on track numbers are a little better than it appears.
OK so Dish Network is not an option because of MSG.
Is Twinspires available in NY? They already carry all the tracks you're chomping at the bit for.
I can't figure why NYRA is so slow to plan/open a teletheater or two to fill the void in NYC.
I can't believe I'm writing this, but for the first time since the early 90's, I liked Paul Moran's column.
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