Gaming News

Hitching horses to the slots bandwagon

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- As reported by the Associated Press: "The Fair Grounds Race Course kicked off its 81-day thoroughbred meet Thursday with an added attraction: 245 slot machines the track hopes will boost purses and help it compete against other winter racing ovals.

"After delays caused by the track's sale to Churchill Downs Inc. in 2004 and a season wiped out after Hurricane Katrina, the Fair Grounds has converted the first floor of its off-track betting parlor into a slots room.

"In the racing world, tracks with the fattest purses stand the best chance of getting barns with the superior horses -- along with the largest betting handles. The Fair Grounds meet, which runs through March 23, starts with an average of $350,000 a day in purses.

"Slots opened at the Fair Grounds in September. They took in just under $1.3 million during October, the first full month of operation.

"...The track is expected to open a permanent casino with 700 slots in November 2008..."

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