Betting Down 25% at Pennsylvania Horse Tracks

Betting Down 25% at Pennsylvania Horse Tracks

According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, betting at Pennsylvania horse tracks is down 25 percent from 2006.

Racetracks have suffered across the nation. From 2006, Wagering at all U.S. tracks is down 16 percent, according to Equibase, official supplier of racing statistics for ESPN. Despite a multi-pronged effort to invigorate the sport, comes the decline in betting in Pennsylvania. To the Pennsylvania Horse Development Fund, goes a portion of all slots revenue.

80 percent must be spent on higher purses and 16 percent must benefit breeder operations, of the $236 million generated for the horse fund last year. For horse owners and trainers, another 4 percent helps pay for health care benefits and pension plans.