Min bet size needs raising

[barryb 2,064]

The meetings at this time of year always reminds me how the minimum punter has not raised their bet size in the last 30 years. It's time the min $1 bet was gone, many attending the summer carnival race meetings have been putting $1 e/w on runners for the last 30 years. Yet these same people have been over the years increasing their spend on lotto and think nothing of sinking $20 or $40 to lose in 5 mins on the pokies.

Ok if it were to increase to min $4 ($2e/w) would any of these picnic people not come along or not bet as much? I doubt it and even if they did the increase in spend from others would easily counter it. 

I can remember attending the Solway Park greyhounds in the early 80's which had a stack of $1 windows, a few $2, 1 at $5 & 1 at $10, we don't appear to have progressed much from then when we still have plenty of $1 bets going over the counter.

What do others think?.

[richie 1,027]

Interesting point,i can see both sides here.

Do you want to alienate the older generation that still enjoy having $1p on  horse.I know a couple of chaps  at local tab put $1p on a horse at all NZ meets plus Melbourne and Sydney every Saturday.

With a few collects it still  between 40 to 50 bucks.They are both good mates and run it like a comp.One that gets least back buys the first beer at the RSA on sunday morning.On the other hand i have had to stand in line while they do bets as neither fill in forms and that gets frustrating.

A few people that we were with at Motukarara the other day were taking 1 horse 1ew and then taking faves in $1 quinellas.They not racing people but find it a cheap day out,may think otherwise if all of a sudden $33 of betting becomes $55.Especially if both spouses doing that all of a sudden $66 becomes $110.Plus 20 for both to get in and probably another 30 in petrol from Ashburton and it starts to get costly.

On the other hand they travel to every local Crusaders game and dont blink an eyelid at the costs involved for them and kids.But just get the feeling that one days racing a year just wouldnt excite them as much if the costs went up

 

[barryb 2,064]

Yep certainly get that Richie about the chaps you refer too, however NOT a single other thing they do or buy has remained at that same price or investment for the last 30 odd years like their $1 bets have.

Whenever change happens there are always a few who miss out or are affected.

[Trump 2,741]

I agree with BB on this. It cost me 20c to go the movies (it used to be called THE FLEA HOUSE in those days). Today, unless it's cheap Tuesday, it costs about $14 to get in. Pensioner rates will get you in for about $8. So, for betting to be allowed at $1, doesn't make sense. All other Raceday costs (hot dogs?) have gone up. The same $1 punters (minority) are paying more for their beer and pies ! But as in many cases, the minority rule.

[richie 1,027]

2 hours ago, barryb said:

Yep certainly get that Richie about the chaps you refer too, however NOT a single other thing they do or buy has remained at that same price or investment for the last 30 odd years like their $1 bets have.

Whenever change happens there are always a few who miss out or are affected.

So how will that help racing.They probably just wont bet at all  then or bet on sports.where you can still have $1 bets.Cant see how it will help racing at all.When i go to races i take so much money and when it gone it gone.Only spend so much per week and imagine most small punters the same.

[Turny 1,224]

Remove trackside

Remove telephone betting

Increase minimum bet

 

Yep sure fire positive marketing to a dwindling client base

On a winner here

[barryb 2,064]

Raising the minimum, will raise the total bet for sure.

EG: Lotto introduced Wed lotto and whats happened,  the turnover has gone up stacks, it hasnt canabilised Saturday but increased overall.

The same thing would happen with racing if the min was raised. 

As you said yourself, they have no issue spending $9 on a bottle of beer when 12 can be bought at the supermarket for $25. 

[lecithin 429]

Totally agree Barry.  I was at a table at Ellerslie yesterday with a bunch of people that hadn't been to the races in years and one asked me before the first what the minimum bet was and they were shocked it was only $1.  They then placed $1 bets all day and I'm 100% sure they would have still placed a bet on ever race if the minimum had been $5.  I'm sure 99% of once a year punters would be the same - they will just bet the minimum on every race and hence increasing this to say $5 would certainly increase turnover.

[Trump 2,741]

It's the same old rule. It's called. "Minority Rule" and it stuffs so many things. Keep catering for the minority - what a joke. Nobody wants to make the decisions for fear of a few being upset. That sums up NZ Racing in a nutshell.

[Shad 1,558]

1 hour ago, richie said:

So how will that help racing.They probably just wont bet at all  then or bet on sports.where you can still have $1 bets.Cant see how it will help racing at all.When i go to races i take so much money and when it gone it gone.Only spend so much per week and imagine most small punters the same.

Its abit like fashion in the fields, all the dress up and don't spend a cracker on the tote, just there for the prizes, at least the small player spending sumthing on the tote.

[chevy86 2,710]

1 hour ago, barryb said:

 

As you said yourself, they have no issue spending $9 on a bottle of beer when 12 can be bought at the supermarket for $25. 

Most of those buying the "inflated price" beer are not betting ! They are there to get pissed and chase pussy!

[bestbets 206]

Remember when the multi bet was a min bet of $5.00. Why do you think they reduced it to $1.00 and then they introduced % $1 bets for all exotics.

I spend more now on those bet types than I use to and if they were to go up to a min of say $2.00 I don't see myself spending anymore just be less bets.

I say leave it at $1.00, Racing has already got rid of so many people by taking away Trackside and Herald lift out.

[slam dunk 1,317]

if its not broke don't fix it.

Some may wish to put 10 eachway then say 1 each way as a saver. If they can't put the saver on then they probably won't bother with the 10..

[barryb 2,064]

47 minutes ago, slam dunk said:

if its not broke don't fix it.

Some may wish to put 10 eachway then say 1 each way as a saver. If they can't put the saver on then they probably won't bother with the 10..

It is broke Slam thats the issue. Its costing revenue 

[richie 1,027]

Its not the bet size that broke, it is making the fields attractive enough to get people to bet.Tauherinikau today 62 starters in 8 races.2 races with 2 divvies and another race with win only divvie.

 

Thames tomorrow 73 starters in 8 races already 3 with 2 divvies and another 2 will if any scratchings.

They let all the big punters go to overseas markets and they cant or not doing anything to get them back.I say leave the small punters alone

 

R1 at Thames tomorrow $20000 stake yet only be 6 runners going around.

[chelseacol 2,488]

The simple answer on course is a minimum bet window (let's say $25 -but $50 works too)

Put one of the 300 under-employed security people on the entrance to the queue for that window (and dish out a free drink while you are in the queue)

Simple....

[Insider 3,961]

If you can't put on at least $5 each way don't bother coming....

With the cost of opening the gate/doors it just isn't worth it.

Lower the gate price and up the minimum bet. Also lower the cost of the food and drinks and see what happens.

Keep doing what you have always done and you will get same result.

Its time for a change or at least to try something different, that is if you don't want to continue going downhill, like we currently are. 

Liz

 

[bestbets 206]

3 hours ago, Insider said:

If you can't put on at least $5 each way don't bother coming....

With the cost of opening the gate/doors it just isn't worth it.

Lower the gate price and up the minimum bet. Also lower the cost of the food and drinks and see what happens.

Keep doing what you have always done and you will get same result.

Its time for a change or at least to try something different, that is if you don't want to continue going downhill, like we currently are. 

Liz

 

I remember some years back the casino increased the minimum amount you could put down on a blackjack table didn't take to long before they back down an reintroduce $5 tables sadly many never came back an I was one of them. 

[lecithin 429]

9 hours ago, bestbets said:

I remember some years back the casino increased the minimum amount you could put down on a blackjack table didn't take to long before they back down an reintroduce $5 tables sadly many never came back an I was one of them. 

I'd suggest Casinos are a great example of why the minimum bet SHOULD be raised.  Thirty years ago you could probably have a $1 bet on blackjack and now it's at least a $5 minimum (I'm sure Crown in Melbourne is now a $10 minimum).  With all due respect to you, if you won't bet a minimum $5 or $10, the casinos couldn't care less if you don't go back.  You can't use a few people that won't pay for something as a reason for not increasing the price/minimum bet.

[Blue 1,099]

We now don't have 1 and 2 cent pieces. Give a kid 10cents and they'll laugh at you.It's all relative.

[bestbets 206]

2 hours ago, lecithin said:

I'd suggest Casinos are a great example of why the minimum bet SHOULD be raised.  Thirty years ago you could probably have a $1 bet on blackjack and now it's at least a $5 minimum (I'm sure Crown in Melbourne is now a $10 minimum).  With all due respect to you, if you won't bet a minimum $5 or $10, the casinos couldn't care less if you don't go back.  You can't use a few people that won't pay for something as a reason for not increasing the price/minimum bet.

I understand your points. My point is when I used to be at the casino it was about fun not about money as we all know that gambling is about fun. I use to take $200 win or lose and some nights I would have a great night other nights not so good but it didn't matter I got value for my money. Once prices were increased I found I needed $500 a night and thats when it wasn't so much fun anymore. 

I recall been taken aside by a senior person within the casino who knew me as I was very much a regular an asked why I wasn't attending the casino like I use to. I gave my reasons and at the time he said they were having a downturn in turnover and were concerned. 

So if I take my $200 and spend it somewhere else and another 100 people do the same then it all adds up over time and that is all lost business. So if we increase the minimum bet to $5.00 then those that have a small budget of say $20.00 might feel the same as I did at the casino and stop betting. I think racing needs every cent they can get with so many forms of entertainment out there to spend money on, no longer is NZ beer, rugby and racing.

[Shad 1,558]

Always someone after your dollar, and if racing dont, some other form will snap it up.

[Forty 6]

18 hours ago, richie said:

Its not the bet size that broke, it is making the fields attractive enough to get people to bet.Tauherinikau today 62 starters in 8 races.2 races with 2 divvies and another race with win only divvie.

 

Thames tomorrow 73 starters in 8 races already 3 with 2 divvies and another 2 will if any scratchings.

They let all the big punters go to overseas markets and they cant or not doing anything to get them back.I say leave the small punters alone

 

R1 at Thames tomorrow $20000 stake yet only be 6 runners going around.

I agree with this comment fully. I believe the greatest handicap to racing is the fields. The stakes are so low that most owners cannot afford to keep racing their horses and anything that shows promise is immediately sold overseas and as a consequence both the numbers and quality of fields drop off. Good horses attract people who generally then like to have a wager. Whether it is $1 or $10 who cares . The important thing is that they do

[rdytdy 5,343]

22 hours ago, Trump said:

It's the same old rule. It's called. "Minority Rule" and it stuffs so many things. Keep catering for the minority - what a joke. Nobody wants to make the decisions for fear of a few being upset. That sums up NZ Racing in a nutshell.

So what is the minimum in Australia?

[rdytdy 5,343]

1 hour ago, Forty said:

Whether it is $1 or $10 who cares . The important thing is that they do

Spot on Forty!!!