The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board recently released the third annual Pari-Mutuel Wagering Benchmark Report that details the impact of slot machine play on the pari-mutuel horse racing industry in Pennsylvania. With the addition of wagering statistics for 2009, this report expands previous comparisons on the status of pari-mutuel wagering over four years. The report focuses on revenue from slots play and its impact on the various indicators of pari-mutuel health for the years 2006-2009 such as number of races, purse amounts, racing handle (the total amount wagered by patrons) and the export of live racing signals to other properties, both inside and outside Pennsylvania.

"The 2009 report continues to show trends that began in 2006, with the opening of the first slots facility, that include an increase in the number of horse races, an increase in the amount of funds for purses and an increase in slots play on racing days," said Gaming Control Board member and agriculturalist Gary A. Sojka. "All of which demonstrates that the PA Race Horse Development and Gaming Act is having a positive impact on the horse racing industry and agriculture in the Commonwealth."

Gaming Control Board Chairman Greg Fajt says the report clearly demonstrates that the introduction of slot machine gaming at Pennsylvania race tracks has produced some positive results, but it also shows a numbers of areas that still need improvement for the longer term health of the horse racing industry in Pennsylvania.

"No one can doubt that the injection of hundreds of millions of dollars from slot machine play into the horse racing industry has rescued tracks from closure and saves thousands of jobs," Fajt says. "At the same time, some amendments to the Gaming Act approved this year by the legislature recognize the importance of promoting the racing industry by requiring each horse racing track to report how they plan to promote live racing, and increase both the live handle and daily attendance at the licensed racetrack on a yearly basis.“

Sojka added that continuing to support Pennsylvania’s horse racing industry through the growing revenue generated by legalized slots gaming has a direct impact on farmland preservation and a beneficial trickle-down economic impact on the entire agricultural community. "Additionally, gaming has provided new job opportunities in the racing industry, as well as health and pension benefits and improved living and working conditions for racetrack workers," Sojka stated. (E-04.21.10)

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