Track Racing
Racetrack wagering is number three on the list of legalized gambling revenue generators, with casinos and lotteries hold the number one and two pace. As mild gamblers slowly moved to the more diverse entertainments that the casino offered, the operators of the tracks felt they needed to enter the casino market if they were to survive.
It was in the late 1990′s that the first gambling machine was introduced that was called Instant Racing. This game let players bet on previously run races and in 2004 brought in a revenue of $5.8 million from a younger clientele. Slot machines and video poker terminals were then seen at veteran racetracks. Some felt this compromised the sport and people then came up with the name racino as the crossbreed name from the tradition tracks.
The racino had the domino effect like that of the casino boom of the 1990s and so ten states pushed legislation to keep their citizens and their money from jumping states. Lawmakers and communities were then divided because of the social, economic and moral impact that each new casino created. Crime and decay were the two feared effects that many feared would take place with the new casinos.
