Slot Machines and Racetracks Go Hand in Hand

According to the American Gaming Association, more than three dozen racetrack casinos – also known as racinos – have opened since 1992. Their figures show that last year their slot machines brought in $3.6 billion in gross gaming revenue, which is 16% higher than it was the year before. They also say that they contributed $1.4 billion to the state and local municipalities in taxes.

But the most important thing that they have done is keep racetracks open. It seems odd that the one thing that is actually putting them under, slot machines is the same thing that will pull them out of the trouble they are in. Slot machines bring in billions in revenue, which means money for purses for the tracks.

Some states have accepted that if they want their racetracks to stay open that they have to give them slot machines so that they can compete with all of those that already have them. New Jersey and Maryland are two that have not, but their time seems to be coming. NJ lawmakers are discussing the real possibility that they may have to bring in slot machines for the tracks to continue to exist, and Maryland says that they will lose The Preakness if they do not get slot machines.

Before the tracks would cry foul because they couldn’t compete with the slot machines, now they want to know where theirs are. For an industry that is now bringing in billions, it seems that they have found them.

Back to Monthly Archive // Main Slot Machine News Index