Saratoga is More Than Just Slot Machines

Saratoga Gaming and Raceway has opened a new nightclub that they are very proud of, it is called Vapor. The new club has cocktails, bottle service and sushi – which might seem a little weird for a racetrack. They are also going to have a summer concert series that includes the likes of KC and the Sunshine Band, and the Gin Blossoms. The club seems like something straight out of Vegas or NYC, but not at a harness racing track.

But the fact remains that it is at a harness track, and more than 50,000 people walk through those doors every week – with most of them coming to play the slot machines. The track has 1,762 slot machines for the playing, and the addition of them has helped the track tremendously.

About six years ago, the state passed a measure that allowed for slot machines and expanded gambling at their nine tracks, as they were suffering and it did not look like they could stay open without them. They felt that instead of putting all of the people out of work that work for the tracks, they would bring in slot machines to increase the amount of income that the tracks produced.

Since then, an additional eight venues have been built, and in 2004 the Saratoga brought in their slot machines. They initially brought in 1,300 slot machines, and then followed them up with another 400 slot machines two years later. In addition to the extra slot machines, they also added more gaming floor space, the Vapor club, and a new restaurant.

What is good for Saratoga though is not good for the rest of the city. City leaders were angry when they were not consulted on the planning process – instead it was handled by the New York State Division of Lottery. The city did not get a chance to ensure that the integrity of the town remained, as the state was more interested in making more revenue off of the slot machines.

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