Arlington Park board divided over adding slot machines to race track
Arlington Park is looking to add slot machines to the race track in an attempt to revive the dwindling crowd at the race course.
However, there are obstacles in way of making such an addition to the facilities because all the board members are not in agreement over the prospect. In fact, only one of the total of five board members feels that slot machines should be added to the racecourse. Carol Blackwood is the sole member of the board who is a proponent of the new proposal.
The horse racing industry in many states has been experiencing a decline due to recession. As a result, the race tracks have been adversely affected. The purses for various races have shrunk to a much smaller percentage than their previous size. As if the industry was not already having problems in drawing younger crowds, the prevalent economic conditions have done severe damage to the spectatorship at racecourses such as Arlington Park.
In light of circumstances such as these, many race tracks across the country have decided to provide additional facilities along with racing. Some are working on providing off track betting facilities while others are looking at online poker rooms. Some at Arlington Park feel that the right step for it would be to add slot machines to their facilities.
Unlike Blackwood, who supports the idea fully, Bruce Green thinks that the race track should not provide the facility of slot machines all through the year. Rather, according to Green, the option should be available only during the racing season.
Another person, John Scaletta, who is the trustee of Arlington Park, is neutral in his stance. Scaletta is not rejecting the proposal but does not think an approval would be appropriate without first having gone through any plan of action that would detail how the slot machines would be added to the track and how they would be operated.
Whatever may be the joint decision of the board, the management of Arlington Park feel that the addition of slot machines would be a welcome change for the racetrack that would help revive its past ambience and glory.
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