But my understanding is it’s more profitable for them to have the gaming center. “Ellis Park used to have a whole lot more races than what it does now. It’s done that by bringing historical racing machines to Ellis Park, its race course in Henderson County. He said while CDI’s top races, the Derby and Kentucky Oaks, remain successful, the company has had to adapt elsewhere due to horse racing attendance declining.

University of Louisville professor Thomas Lambert studies gambling and the horse racing industry. plans to open its downtown Derby City Gaming facility by the end of the year. That slice is larger than a decade ago when casinos made up 30% of CDI’s net revenue.Ī CDI representative did not respond to requests for comment about the company’s strategic plans. More than $750 million of that, or around 40%, came from its casinos in states such as Florida, Iowa and New York, since Kentucky doesn’t allow them. Even as the company has either introduced or plans to add these gaming consoles in three states - Louisiana, New Hampshire and Virginia - it’s also taken an interest in traditional casinos.Īccording to annual financial reports, CDI made $1.8 billion in net revenue last year. The machines are just one part of CDI’s expansion beyond live horse racing.

“We will seek to build on that track record.” “We have developed high-growth, high-margin investments in this segment,” Castanjen said. When it opens at 4th and Market Streets, expected by the end of this year, the city’s second Derby City Gaming venue will join a growing array of historical racing machine venues in Kentucky.īill Carstanjen, the company’s CEO, said during a public investor call last week that the machines “are a key strategic focus over the next five to ten years” to expand the company’s reach. plans to bring horse racing to downtown Louisville.īut unlike the Run for the Roses, attendees will wager on past races, digitally replicated on slot-like machines.

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