Handle Decline Continues...

[pointman]

Originally Posted by Split Rock

Not going to debate the issue with you. You lost me at "...around almost as long as the game" nonsense. If you really believe cheating today is similar to what it was even 15 years ago, we are not going to have a legitimate discussion.

As far as the economy goes, I think you're the one with the government job. Make yourself more valuable and you'll earn more money, despite the market. Gambling almost always works independent of economic times. Sure, there might be moderate fluctuations but, the reality is, most gamblers will find the money to wager. They may not find the money to replace the moth eaten sweaters or toeless sneakers but they will find money to bet.

You cannot convince me that the casino industry is showing a decline. If economy was the issue, all gambling would be off. It's not.

I assure you that I don't have a government job and that I do quite well, in fact even in this bad environment this will easily be my best year yet, but I guess you weren't able to get my point in the first place. If you think drugging is a new thing than you are really lost, but you tipped that off as well by admitting that you got lost at that point. There was cheating going on 30, 40 years ago, even longer. In fact, there may have been more then as there was little to no detection methods back then.

I am tired of the doom and gloom from people like you. Horseracing will get through the bad economy, the trainers that give their horses illicit drugs and will be around for a long time. The real problem is the competition it has had from other sports gaining popularity and taking TV time, competition from the casinos for the gambling dollar which are popping up everywhere and the watered down product caused by trainers keeping their horses in the barns instread of running them creating much smaller fields. Then there is a reason that explains a large portion of the decline, the fact that the largest bet taker in the country of Thoroghbred racing was in business March of last year and is out of business March of this year. It is going to take some time to recover all of those lost players. While the cheating contributes to it, it is not the major factor for recent declines as you unwittingly claim.

The casino industry thought it was economy proof until the last few years. They have had declines in the last two to three years despite the fact that States have legalized gambling allowing it in places never before which should have increased the revenue. That said, most casinos are still seeing declines and the ones that aren't are barely gaining if at all. But go ahead, keep telling everyone the sport is going into the s.hit.ter.