Author Archives: Joe Favorito

Double Jackkpot for NJ Man in Three Weeks

‎By @TheDailyPayoff

A New Jersey man hit a slot machine jackpot at Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway twice on the same machine within three weeks, the casino reported.
Dominic Sanaite of Saddle Brook hit for $100,000 on a slot Monday night, capping his hot streak. Three weeks earlier on the same machine, Sanaite scored his first $100,000 jackpot , according to Empire Casino press release.
‎Santaite made his six-figure score ($20 more than the first one) on the exact same slot machine for the exact same wager (a $5 bet on a $1 denomination machine) as he did on June 10th.‎

Meanwhile, on the track at Yonkers Raceway, the big payoffs kept coming Tuesday on a matinée card catering French simulcasting. Jordan Stratton drove 72-1 shot Jesse’s Story to victory in the eighth race, lighting up the tote board with a $146 win mutuel, the largest of the season.

Overcoming the disadvantageous post 12, Jesse turned back the 3-2 favorite, Dreamsteeler driven by Jason Bartlett, by a neck, to combine for a season-high exacta of $1,394. Stratton also was responsible for the previous high mutuel payoff of $136.50 when he reined Hypnotist to victory earlier in the year. ‎

Finally, the biggest jackpot in history continues to grow: the ‎$1.2 million score on the popular Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars slot machine is still up for grabs at the Westchester casino. When the record jackpot is finally hit, it will exceed the previous mark by more than a half million dollars, Empire reported.

DraftKings’ UK Gambling License Bid Stirs Debate

By Frank Scandale @FScandale @TheDailyPayoff

Daily Fantasy player Draft Kings’ plan to obtain a gambling license in the UK is seen as a shrewd move to gain a foothold in the international market.
It is also viewed as a risky move to catch its larger rival that could tarnish its image as a fantasy player by plunging into the gambling sector, and upset its NFL and network backers.
Either way, the move is fueling speculation of what this means for daily fantasy sports, who some see will be played by 100 million people within three years.

Adam Krejcik, a partner in Eilers Research that studies the digital and interactive gaming industry, suggests why neither daily fantasy sports player has targeted the UK at this point.
“They are focusing their money and resources on the US,” he says, adding, “Once you enter into the international market, you have to file for a gambling license, which might seem hypocritical since you have maintained DFS is not gambling.”

He said FanDuel probably saw that issue, but DraftKings “feels the time is right to enter this market and doesn’t feel like this should be an issue.”
Eisler also noted the risks involved go beyond its image as a non-gambling site.
“The market itself has not been proven yet either. You have to build a team and an office, get a license and then market and acquire customers over there,” Eisler said.

Yet, Draft Kings did not make this move without consulting with its strategic US investors, including networks and pro teams.
“I would not have expected them to make this move without having discussion with shareholders who are strategically aligned,” he said. “And then at the end of the day they must have felt comfortable.”

DraftKings did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

As for the NFL, which has approved one-year partnerships with league approval, the league remains on the sidelines, he says, but are not letting its teams invest directly into DFS companies. For New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, for instance, has an investment into DK through Kraft Sports Group and not subject to the same rules as teams.
“For other investors, generally speaking, there is a shift. The sports leagues themselves are becoming more open-minded when it comes to sports and gambling.”

Rick Wolf, president of Fantasy Alarm and co-founder of Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA), sees the move as a smart diversification of Draft Kings core business.
“One of the key misnomers is that fantasy sports players are gamblers,” he said. “In research from the FSTA that has 56.8M people in North America playing, the number who wager regularly on sports is very small. It is not a cross over play, but a new business and really, why not?”
Wolf also sees the NFL and MLB, for instance, supporting fantasy sports in general, and will react to DK’s move depending on their own respective agreements and their own views, not to mention the views of the public.

“The public is smart and knows that fantasy sports is not gambling so I don’t think this is an issue for them,” Wolf said. “…and the cross over is small. To me it is just a diversification into a completely different business vertical with similar software needs.”

Another supporter of the diversification move is Darren Heitner, a sports and entertainment attorney based in Miami, who said the move makes perfect sense as it positions the company well should the United States eventually relax its overall stance on gambling on the federal level.
“It (makes sense) for multiple reasons,” Heitner said. “The chief justification being that Draft Kings can test out a proprietary gambling platform that is ready to be implemented in the United States should the federal law preventing widespread gambling (PASPA) be amended or revoked. Furthermore, it will allow for an extension of the brand on a worldwide scale, which could open doors for the proliferation of its fantasy-related offerings. Additionally, it may believe that there is market share to grab — making sense from the most basic premise that it has a platform that could generate additional revenue at a reasonable cost.”

Regardless of all the factors surrounding DFS, Heitner thinks most decisions will be based on business bottom line outcomes. While the NFL has its concerns about gambling and pro sports, he thinks the league would be taking a contradictory position if it were to chastise Draft Kings for implementing a gambling operation overseas, as it seeks to expand its product into the UK.
He said the NFL continues to expand the number of games played in the UK and “would love to have a team based there.”

“It is well aware of the amount of gambling that occurs within the UK orders,” Heitner said. “The leagues may claim that gambling runs contrary to maintaining the integrity of the game, but the bottom line is the bottom line.”

Same for investors. They will look at the strengths and weaknesses of entering such an industry in a particular market and then decide what opportunities and threats exist, Heitner said.

As for television partners , Heitner doesn’t see a problem.
“ESPN has to be quite thankful that the World Series of Poker became such a hot commodity,” he said. “Again, it should be about what this expansion does for the bottom line.
“If the operation is legal where the platform is offered, then the conversation over perception should be a nonstarter. I go back to the NFL harping on the fact that the potential of gamblijng threatens the integrity of the game. Yet, the NFL expands the number of games played in London year-over-year and would love to have a team based in the UK.”

ESPN and DraftKings recently inked a partnership deal worth a reported $250 million, according to The Boston Globe and other media sources. ( http://www.betaboston.com/news/2015/06/24/draftkings-wins-big-espn-ad-deal-but-no-word-on-investment-rumors/)

For a unique perspective on fantasy sports and the UK, Mondogoal’s founder and CEO talked about his early success there.

Shegul Arshad said his operation, which focuses on online fantasy soccer, entered the UK last summer for the World Cup with a soft launch. He has a unique perspective as the DFS landscape continues to evolve.
Incorporated in the Isle of Man with a US headquarters in Boston, Mondogoal offers cash and non-cash games for players, depending on where the individual is located and what the regional gambling rules are.

“It’s certainly a strange move, if you ask me,” he says of the Draft Kings move. “For a US-based company to go over there, it’s a strange move given the fact so many states and jurisdictions are being looked at.”

However, Arshad is optimistic because if Draft Kings is successful overseas, it will help the industry grow overall.
“If the pie grows, we are all taking slices of the pie,” he said.
He wishes them well because now if someone searches the report they heard that Draft Kings is coming to the UK, it will help drive traffic to all fantasy sports sites.
“Any new entrant and credible dollars that go into the market place, will help educate about daily fantasy, and at the end of the day, if awareness ratchets up, there will be multiple winners across the board.”

Fantasy and Reality: Nando DiFino Explains

By Joe Favorito @JoeFav @TheDailyPayoff

With the Fantasy Sports Trade Association Summer Convention being held in New York earlier this week, Nando DiFino, Executive Producer and Manager of Content for Anthem Media Group and their platforms on Fantasy Sports Network and Sirius XM, expounded on his view of the landscape these days.

One of the eye-popping stats he offered: 100 million people will be playing daily fantasy sports in three years.

A young veteran of the space, DiFino has helped create and manage Fantasy News and Business at CBS Interactive, AOL, the Wall Street Journal and other places.
We talked to him about his career, and the growing fantasy business today.

How did you get your start in sports media?

It was the SportsTicker — probably one of the greatest rooms I’ve ever worked in. A bunch of guys loving sports, scoring games, inputting them into computers that would blast the results out to the places the Ticker served. I worked there when I was in grad school, mainly nights and weekends. I loved that job. I loved everyone who worked there. That job was the main part of my resume that got me working for Sam Walker on Fantasyland. From there, it all snowballed.

The fantasy sports business is growing, how big can it be in the next few years?

Five years ago, fantasy players were still carrying a nerdy stigma. Now, I go to meetings, and everyone has a brother who plays, or a son. My wife has two leagues. Fantasy football is going to lead the charge because it’s so prevalent in society and pop culture, and daily fantasy’s wide reach has opened eyes in places regular fantasy had failed to penetrate. This will be huge. 100 million people will be playing by 2018.

Where and how can we see your work on The Fantasy Sports Network?

We are on several cable outlets (Cablevision, Bell Fibe, several more), we’re on XBOXes now. Roku, Amazon Fire, you can stream us on FNTSY.com. We’re growing at a rate quicker than we had anticipated.

Some still don’t understand the difference between gambling and pay fantasy, is there one?

There is. It’s a blurry line sometimes, and it’s easy to just point and say “fantasy is gambling,” but fantasy really does require a skill. Put your time in, research it, and you can do really well. The best gamblers in the world may win 55 percent of the time. The best fantasy players in the world can be up in the 70s or 80s.

What professionals helped shape your career?

Michael Epstein, a producer at ESPN, put me on TV and taught me to just be normal. He also taught me to always hold a pen when I’m talking so my hands aren’t doing weird things. Matthew Berry (ESPN) is a tremendous mentor; he doesn’t like to be inside the box and offers really great, selfless advice whenever I need it. Sam Walker (WSJ) pushed me to write and write, even if it wasn’t in a paper or online — do it just to stay sharp. Adam Thompson (WSJ) taught me to be more concise with my words and not be afraid to chop up a run-on sentence. Lou Maione, my current boss, is a dreamer, but in a good way. He’ll have these ideas and do whatever he can to make them a reality. I’ve never seen him defeated by something he really wants to do. And Wayne Loewe at CourtTV taught me how to be a great boss; specifically how to treat people who worked with and for you with respect and understanding that they will get the job done. Everyone who has a staff should search out and take lessons from Wayne Loewe.

Are there members of the media whose careers you followed growing up, and if so, who and why?

Steve Rushin’s SI columns were tremendous. His writing is just so sly and wonderful. Bill Watterson, Gary Larson, and Berkely Breathed could really craft these engaging stories and then draw corresponding photos that deepened them to a degree I never could. I think I own every Calvin and Hobbes, Bloom County, and Far Side book ever made.
I think anyone my age in sports who denied Bill Simmons had anything to do with influencing them is a liar. He is fearless in his pop culture parallels and style. Prime Time Adam Schein was a big radio voice on Syracuse radio growing up. I see him at Sirius once in a while and remind him of that. Jim Henson was huge for me. Everything he did was infused with this multi-layered creative spirit and humor. But you could tell he did his homework, studied things, honed his craft. I love Penn and Teller and the Amazing Johnathan. They catch audiences off guard. I love doing that.

What advice do you give young people trying to get into the business of sports?

Be ready for this to be your part-time job (or a miserable full-time one) for at least five years. Everyone wants to be in sports; the problem in not getting discovered may not be that people are better than you, but it takes a while to turn over every rock if there are 10,000 of them lined up in front of and around you.
Inside the craft, I’d say always remember that the guy you’re ripping to shreds in a column or on TV could have been your college roommate, or your childhood friend. He’s just a dude who is really good at his job, and you’re probably, deep down, just being jealous. Everyone can be negative. It actually takes some creativity and research to find the positive in most situations.

FanDuel Grows NBA Platform

By @TheDailyPayoff

While DraftKings relationship with MLB and their enhancements in golf have given them great buzz this early summer, FanDuel continues its focus on the winter and its two core sports, says its chief executive.
CEO Nigel Eccles said football and basketball remain its focus, taking the opportunity with the NBA Draft Thursday to announced an expansion of its NBA partnerships for the fall at Tuesday’s FSTA Conference in New York,

FanDuel locked in exclusive multi-year partnerships with 13 league franchises – the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz.
The deal hands FanDuel marketing assets from in-arena digital signage and in-game promotions to digital, TV and radio advertising, among other branding initiatives. FanDuel will also collaborate with the individual organizations to continue to bring unique experiences to fans, including exclusive player meet-and-greets and VIP road trips to events.
“Partnering with these NBA organizations has been an incredible asset to FanDuel’s growth and business. NBA fans comprise a younger, mobile-centric demographic, looking for new ways to engage with their favorite sport, teams and athletes throughout the duration of the season, which is exactly what they get on FanDuel,” said Nigel Eccles, CEO and co-founder, in a release. “We’re going to keep partnering with franchises that recognize FanDuel’s ability to keep fans in their seat with their eyes glued to every game because they have a player on their fantasy team that night.”

During the conference the value of pay fantasy was again backed up by NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum in an interview with Eric Fisher of The Sports Business Journal.
“We have made our stance clear that we do not see pay fantasy as gambling, and it is a prime way for us to engage deeper with our fans,” Tatum said. “Our fans and our teams have made it clear that this is a growing engagement platform and we are excited about continuing to work to enhance our relationship.”

While not exclusive with the NBA, FanDuel has made it clear that their key business objectives and their growth strategy is revolving around the activation and engagement with the NBA, as well as their recently announced partnerships with a majority of the NFL teams. The NFL remains the least engaged league in an official capacity in pay fantasy, with MLB having taken up an equity position with DraftKings and Fan Duel with the NBA. Several NBA teams, including the New York Knicks, have chosen to partner with DraftKings as part of a wider cross-promotional strategy, but Eccles remains bullish on the overall basketball relationship as the core of Fan Duel’s platform in 2015 and beyond.

Draft Kings Seeks Licensing in Great Britain?

By @TheDailyPayoff
Indications are that Draft Kings, the Avis to Fan Duel’s Hertz status in the daily fantasy (DFS) sports arena, is looking to expand oversees, as previously indicated by the organization last December.
Bigo1 mentioned yesterday on Twitter https://twitter.com/Bigo1_/status/611200132080627712 and then Legal Sports Report followed up last night with a full report http://www.legalsportsreport.com/1765/draftkings-uk-license-application/ that Draft Kings had filed an application with the UKGC for the necessary licenses to operate in the United Kingdom.
Legal Sports Report also posted a copy of the application, which apparently seeks approval for gambling software and pool betting.
The move opens up much conversation about the future of DFS on whether it constitutes gambling, and whether Draft Kings is looking at gambling as a business. It also poses the question on if this is true, how Draft Kings’ strategic move be addressed by rival Fan Duel.

American Pharoah’s Next Run in NY or NJ?

By Terry Lyons, Contributing Columnist, The Daily Payoff
@terrylyons

The suspense is killing me. When will American Pharoah run? Just tell me, please, when and where.

The horse racing world is abuzz this week as fan speculation on the whereabouts of Pharoah’s next race is being fueled by a considerable amount of old-fashioned lobbying.

Since thoroughbred owner Ahmed Zayat’s initial statement two days after The Belmont Stakes, the odds-on favorite for the Triple Crown winner’s next race was The Haskell at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. However, a June 18th social media posting by Zayat turned the racing world upside down when the horse owner cryptically tweeted, “right know Saratoga is in the lead. Head of Haskell.” (sic).

That post might have the folks at TVG, known as America’s #1 online horse wagering and TV network, scrambling for a PR flack re-write as the broadcaster had previously issued a press release, complete with Betfair odds on Pharoah’s next run, which stated:

4-to-5 – August 2 – Haskell Invitational, Monmouth Park (NJ)
4-to-1 – August 1 – Jim Dandy Stakes, Saratoga (NY State)
4-to-1 – August 22 – TVG Pacific Classic, Del Mar (San Diego, California
7-to-1 – August 29 – Travers Stakes, Saratoga
16-to-1 – September 26, Awesome Again Stakes, Santa Anita
20-to-1 – August 29 – Mystic Lake Derby, Canterbury Park (Minnesota)
20-to-1 – September 19 – Pennsylvania Derby, Parx (Bensalem, PA)
33-to-1 – September 26 – Jockey Club Gold Cup, Belmont (New York)
10-to-1 – “The Field” also known as Any Other Race

“American Pharoah won the nation’s heart when he crossed the finish line at the Belmont Stakes to end the 37-year wait for a Triple Crown champion,” said Kip Levin, CEO of TVG. “His time in the spotlight is hardly over, however, as he is expected to hit the track once again. The real question on everyone’s mind is, ‘Where will he race next?’”

As American Pharoah was shipped from Kentucky to California for a “promotion and appearance” at Santa Anita, the speculation swung from Monmouth to Del Mar to Saratoga over a 24-hour span.

“I’m intimately involved with all the goings on,” said Dennis Drazin, advisor to the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association, to Stephen Edelson of the Asbury Park Press. “It’s a lot of money. But at the end of the day, what I would say is that (trainer Bob) Baffert is a top horseman, and regardless of the money, you have to do the right thing for the horse. And the right thing for the horse is to run at Monmouth Park against straight 3-year olds. You don’t want to attack older horses at this point.

“The ultimate goal is the Breeders’ Cup Classic and you have to plan for him getting to that race,” said Drazin to the APP. “The Haskell, although it’s not a walkover, it’s the right kind of race. It’s straight 3-year olds on a track he’ll love. Baffert’s been a winner seven times (at The Haskell).”

Immediately after the perfectly-timed Zayat social media post, the twitterverse exploded with further speculation and Drazin declined comment to his Asbury Park pundit.

American Pharoah is now looking at his non-racing public appearance at Santa Anita in California for the track’s Gold Cup day on June 27. Importantly, the colt’s breeding rights have already been secured by Ashford Stud in central Kentucky’s bluegrass country and his stud fees will range between $175,000 and $200,000, placing a conservative $17.5 million for annual fees, according to numerous published reports.

The plan for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Ahmed Zayat will remain secret as they field requests from “all kinds of tracks,” according to Baffert. Last weekend, American Pharoah returned to Churchill Downs, site of the colt’s Kentucky Derby win, and was applauded by 30,000, just for a stroll in the park.

“We won’t know for a few weeks,” said Baffert to the Asbury Park Press. “We want to do what’s best for American Pharoah, not what is best for the racetracks.”

Certainly, what is best for all, including the Triple Crown winner, is to continue to fuel interest in the sport of kings while his keepers fuel speculation and keep the industry in the national news. But, as they decide what is best, the victims of that campaign might just be race track ticket buyers who scramble for admission and attempt to make their summer travel plans, whether it be to Monmouth, Saratoga or maybe, Del Mar,

For more information on the TVG press release on Odds:
https://www.tvg.com/press-releases/63866

Tiger Not Like to Make US Open Cut

By Frank Scandale @FScandale @TheDailyPayoff

With 14 holes under his belt, Tiger Woods sits at +11 in the second round of the U.S. Open, near the bottom of the pack.

Trailed only by Ricky Fowler when he teed off this morning at Chambers Bay in Oregon, Woods’ quest for a 15th major will have to wait until another event.

As reported earlier, despite his 14 majors, his unparalleled history and the record holder of longest golfer in the World No. 1 spot, Woods’ odds no longer focus on whether he will win, but if he will even make the cut.

Woods was attempting yet another comeback to his old form, this time at the challenging course in Oregon that looks more like a British Open course than a US Open.

As previously reported, going off at 50-1 at Wynn Las Vegas to win the event outright, most of the focus is on whether he can make the cut, says Johnny Avello, director of Race and Sports Operations at Wynn Las Vegas.

“Even money, yes, to make the cut, and -120 to miss it,” Avello said. His reasoning? “First of all, Tiger is struggling with his game. He’s been there (at the course) for a while, maybe even a week, trying to get his game back to respectability.”

His 50-1 to win odds is probably more of a courtesy to how great a player he was. ”

“Back then, you’d be hard pressed to get 5 or 6-1 on him. But he’s not the same Tiger. He’s struggling to even make cuts. All that said, if he gets his game back to respectability and while I am not sure how many wins he will get, he is still Tiger Woods and he draws crowds.”

Avello had Rory McIlroy as the favorite at 5-1, Jordan Spieth right behind at 7-1, then in the low double digits Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose, followed by a smattering of players at 20-1.

As of this writing, Speith was tied for the lead at -5.

Bovada sports betting also had Woods at even to make the cut and 40-1 to win. http://sports.bovada.lv/sports-betting/golf-pga.jsp They put the Mickelson, Spieth and McIlroy group as the favorites. (As of this writing, Mickelson was -3 and McIlroy -1). Woods missing the cut is the -130 favorite on that bet.

Woods is also offered at +8000 odds to shoot a hole in one at the U.S. Open this week, according to Bovada’s site.

Fan Duel Says NBA and NFL Rule Fantasy World

By @TheDailyPayoff

For all the disruptive forces daily pay fantasy sports have caused in the professional sports scene in the past few years, the industry’s still dominant player, Fan Duel, looks like they will stick to the core that has brought them success and players in the millions, according to their CEO at the Cynopsis Sports Business Conference Tuesday in New York.

Eccles, whose company has continued to thrive in the marketplace even with the ongoing push of Boston-based DraftKings, was frank in his assessment of the formula that has brought the company success, market share and solid partners like the NBA as well as 18 NF teams for the coming 2015 season.

He declared there are really two sports that drive the revenue, and that’s where FanDuel will stay.

“When we started our business, we saw and engaged in MLB as the dominant sport in fantasy,” he said during the closing remarks at the Time Warner Center. “However,we came to realize pretty quickly that MLB, despite their efforts to try and engage with a younger audience, has not driven adoption with pay fantasy. The marketplace is dominated by the NFL and the NBA and then everyone else and that’s where we have had our great success and will continue to do so.”

Eccles said that in the past few years over 50 percent of their revenue has come from the NFL offerings the company has, followed by 30 percent of revenue from the NBA.

MLB, he added, contributed 15 percent of their business, with other sports like golf and soccer only holding five percent of their marketplace. Surprisingly he added that he does not see that formula changing at any point in the next five years, even with the continued growth of soccer on the American landscape.

“Pay fantasy appeals to a younger demo, and that demo in the United States is driven by the NFL and the NBA,” he added. “We have seen all the work that we have done with the NBA pay dividends in fan engagement for a growing audience, and that is where we will continue to spend our marketing focus, along with what we will do around the growing NFL audience. The engaged pay fantasy player has become a more engaged fan, and that has benefitted everyone.”

Eccles also pointed out that all of FanDuel’s research has shown, somewhat surprisingly, that monetary winnings was not the primary driver for their engaged fan base. Rather the biggest driver was what he dubbed “the pregame experience,” the time when fans prepared for games by gathering and engaging with content to help them make their decisions. That engagement was what has fueled Fan Duel to enhance its daily content offerings in recent months, much like DraftKings has recently. The feeling is the better the ancillary content, the more engaged fan and the more engaged fan the better chances of cultivating him or her as a regular daily pay fantasy player.

“Every aspect of our fan experience gets better the more consumers are engaged on our site,” he added. “The better the overall engagement, the more loyal the customer becomes.”

While it was pointed out that other companies, most notably DraftKings but others like Mondogoal, which has specialized in European soccer and also launched a Women’s World Cup business have sought to diversify their offerings with niche sports, Eccles was steadfast in his belief that their research shows to fish where the biggest fish are.

“We will continue to offer games for other sports, but we know what our fans want and what they will engage with regularly, and our plan is to spend our time and our efforts there. It has worked thus far and we don’t see it changing much in the near future.”

That future appears to continue to be bright, as FanDuel will offer enhanced games around their new NFL partnerships this fall while continuing to expand their relationship with the NBA, one which many thought was not as vibrant as baseball even the last few years.

Even the disruptor it appears, knows the big players when they see them, and as the saying goes, if the pay fantasy model isn’t broke, then no need to fix it.

$1 million International Trot Returns

By @TheDailyPayoff

YONKERS, NY – The Fall will bring not only the return of chillier temps, but one of the most elite harness racing events, Yonkers Raceway executives announced Tuesday.

Missing for nearly 20 years, the International Trot, featuring top horses from around the world, was last run at Yonkers in 1995 and won by Sweden’s His Majesty and heralds a return to one of the richest purses in harness racing.

The race is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Oct. 10, and the seven-figure purse would be Yonkers’ second-ever million-dollar race (2007 Art Rooney Pace, won by Southwind Lynx), said Yonkers officials.

“It’s our pleasure to bring back the International Trot,” Raceway president Timothy J. Rooney said. “It’s been a signature New York race since it debuted at Roosevelt Raceway back in 1959. We took over the race after Roosevelt closed, and it was very well received.

“With Yonkers now a major player in the overseas simulcast market, we feel this is the best time to showcase our track to the world by again inviting the best trotters in the world to race here. We have had tremendous cooperation from our horsemen, and all of us are looking forward to it.”

The return of the International Trot has been discussed for years, gaining momentum with the success of last season’s International Trot Preview. That race, contested at a mile-and-a-quarter, was won by Natural Herbie (Verlin Yoder) in a world-record 2:24.4.

The 1 1/4 mile race will feature 10 horses and a $1 million purse.

The purse distribution (same as all events) will see the winner get 50 percent, second place 25 percent, third place 12 percent, fourth place eight percent and fifth place five percent.

Those overseas horses out of the top five will receive $37,500 purse supplements , while North American horses out of the top five will receive $10,000.

High Stakes Game in TV Ratings

By TERRY LYONS, contributing columnist @TheDailyPayoff
@terrylyons

American Pharoah’s run to the Triple Crown grabbed our fair share of attention recently, watching intently as the once-in-a-generation thoroughbred won graded stakes at Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont Raceway.

American Pharoah delivered on the track, but his Triple Crown win translated into only 18.6 million television viewers on NBC, down from the 20.6 million fans who tuned into California Chrome’s failed bid at The Belmont in 2014. When Pharoah had the Triple Crown on the line at The Belmont, you might’ve thought the stakes were as high as they’d get ,but as spring turns to summer and the stretch-run at Belmont is in the rearview, there’s no higher stakes in professional sports than that of the TV ratings game.

Certainly the National Hockey League and NBC benefitted from a strong audience lead-in from The Belmont, as Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final calculated a tune-in of 6.6 million viewers for Game 2 of the series between the Tampa Bay Lightening and Chicago Blackhawks, the strongest non-clinching game TV audience since 1994. The data will improve as the Stanley Cup series, split 2-2 as of this writing, moves on to Tampa for a pivotal fifth game.

Meanwhile, after the longest break in NBA playoff history between the Conference Finals and the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are in the midst of a memorable NBA Finals series, with MVP Steph Curry of the Warriors and the league’s best player, Lebron James of the Cavs doing battle on the court. However, the real numbers are being crunched off the court by the Disney Corporation, the caretakers of ABC Sports, cash cow cable entity ESPN and the NBA on ESPN property.

As of this writing, the 2015 NBA Finals are the highest-rated ever on ABC with Game 4 delivering a 13.9 overnight rating to be joined with the league’s soaring numbers after the first three games of the Finals. Those ratings points translate to some 18.6 million viewers turning into the series, with the numbers — like the NHL’s — sure to go up as the league is guaranteed no fewer than six games to determine the champion.

Delving deeper into the NBA on ABC numbers, the Nielsen ratings in Game 4 were up 31 percent from the Miami vs. San Antonio numbers of a year ago with the ABC ratings averaging 13.1 (overnight), up some 26 percent over 2014. Of course, those are record-setting numbers for ABC Sports and do not factor against the record numbers the NBA did when NBC Sports carried the property. During that run, veteran broadcast chief Dick Ebersol put the pedal to the metal to promote Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls to the tune of a Game 6 1998 NBA Finals record rating of 18 No fewer than 30 million tuned into the NBA from United States households, alone, never mind the growing international audience for basketball.

To be clear, the television ratings game of the winter-spring sports, such as horse racing, ice hockey and basketball cannot and will not compete with the television audience for the NFL’s biggest game – The Super Bowl. Last February, the New England Patriots exciting victory over the Seattle Seahawks saw a Nielsen rating blockbuster of 47.5 that translated to a US audience of 114.4 million viewers for the NFL and TV’s biggest audience of the year. Quite simply, there will never be a sporting audience viewing a game on TV that is larger than the NFL’s Super Bowl audience.

The other interesting point of comparison in the high stakes ratings game for televised sports properties in Major League Baseball which saw an 8.2 ratings average and 13.8 million viewers tune into the 2014 World Series, according to Sports Media Watch. Between Jordan’s last game in 1998 and 2008, the World Series consistently out-rated the NBA Finals. But, over the past five years (2010-2014), the NBA Finals has out-rated Major League Baseball’s World Series and the trend is surely going to continue in 2015, unless October brings about a miracle story (Insert Chicago Cubs joke here!)

One other interesting factor in televised sports ratings is to look at the numbers from the competing local markets. In Cleveland, Game 4 of the NBA Finals generated a 45.7 rating for the 20+ point Golden State blowout of the Cavs. In the Bay Area (SF market), the broadcast delivered a solid 30.5 rating. Pretty amazing audience numbers for the NBA which was largely criticized, especially by NASCAR and Fox Sports tv executives, when the 2003 NBA Finals drew all-time ratings lows of 6.5 for the New Jersey Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs series.
That was a long time ago.

American Pharoah’s Jockey Key to Horse Racing Success?

By Joe Favorito @JoeFav @TheDailyPayoff

American Pharoah captured the imagination of the sports world when Victor Espinoza rode the Bob Baffert-trained/Zayat Stable-owned three-year-old colt to rousing victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown king since 1978 when Affirmed and jockey Steve Cauthen turned the “hat trick.”

American Pharoah became the 12th Triple Crown champion in history on Saturday, June 6, with his emphatic Belmont triumph, after 13-straight Derby/Preakness winners were thwarted in the third jewel at Belmont.

As the sun came up Sunday, the champion horse was getting ready to return to his stable down south, with the plans for what’s next still to be determined. There was a short victory lap of media, but the window of shots with horse in tow closed very fast, until the plans for when the American public, and the racing world, can double down on the horse once again. Saratoga this summer? The Breeders Cup?

In short, this is the problem horse racing has. The short window of excitement comes and it goes – ESPN’s radio host Colin Cowherd rammed this point home this week on his show – , and while The Jockey Club and some of the new leaders of horse racing are trying to extend the window and keep fans engaged, it competes with the likes of the NBA Finals, The Stanley Cup, baseball, and whatever else is right in front of us on screens and social media.

Springing onto the scene is a new face of racing, however, who can hopefully keep the heartbeat pumping.

Victor Espinoza, the telegenic, light-hearted, philanthropic-minded, storytelling jockey who rode the legendary horse to the Triple Crown dream can be that savior. While brands like “Wheels Up” and Monster Energy took the ride last Saturday at The Belmont, it was Espinoza who delivered the sponsor messages.

When Monster got eased out of some tight shots on NBC, Espinoza found a way to work the brand back into the conversation with some humorous and well-timed mentions. When the New York Mets needed a first pitch this week to celebrate the big race just outside Queens, Espinoza was on the mound. When talk shows, any talk show, wanted to talk about the race, he was there again, smiling and re-telling the tales to an audience that was interested and engaged, whether it was a morning show or Charley Rose.

For the longest time media types have tried to push the jockey story as the one the American public can successfully grab on to as the horse racing season unfolds. Many come from very diverse backgrounds, they are constantly on the go, they have to deal with very challenging health issues and a wide variety of personalities from trainers to owners, the taste the agony of defeat probably more than the thrill of victory, and their multi-ethnic backgrounds can appeal to a diverse audience.

Espinoza, with a winning pedigree and now a crowning success, is the great example of what can be done with an elite group. With the proper messaging they can deliver brand value, and they are the constantly visible billboard for traditional advertising with little limits. While they may not have huge amounts of downtime, for the right price their schedule is manageable, as they are treated like independent contractors, and their hardscrabble life, and the living in the fast lane on many days, can even appeal to a younger generation.

There has been some attempt at reality shows around jockeys in the past, which met with various degrees of success. Now with the implement of micro-cameras, digital technology and social media the access and the storytelling around jockeys can be even greater, and they themselves present the constant for racing when even the brightest and best horses come and go during their short racing periods.

Have jockeys become celebrities in the past? On occasion we got a Lafitte Pincay, a Julie Crone, a Ron Turcotte, an Eddie Arcaro, a Rosie Napravnik or a Gary Stevens, but for the most part the jockeys, especially the majority who are Latino, get lost in the mix. Maybe with the story and the engagement of Espinoza, that ability to cross over, something that matches the changing demo of the American population, may be changing, and with that change comes the rise of crossover stars that help the industry bridge the gap until fans cast their eyes back to the track.

It was a great weekend for racing, one that was extended by the rider of the legendary horse, an athlete who is becoming a brand on to himself, and someone who is maybe giving us a peek into a new breed of engaging and interesting personality, with a view from atop such majestic animals.

ODDS ON AMERICAN PHAROAH WINNING “GRAND SLAM”

By Frank Scandale @FScandale @TheDailyPayoff

The dust hasn’t even settled at Belmont and odds makers in Vegas are setting the Triple Crown winner American Pharoah up for another big payday.

With American Pharoah becoming the 12th horse to ever win the coveted Triple Crown, Las Vegas oddsmaker William Hill announced the odds of the thoroughbred winning, OR losing the Breeder’s Cup Classic in October.

William Hill said it would be the first time a horse has won a “Grand Slam” with a win at the Breeder’s, the richest horse race in North America.

William Hill Race & Sports Book has opened YES/NO Prop wagering on “Will American Pharoah win the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic” at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The YES opened at 3/1 (+300) with the NO at 5/18 (-360). In the event that American Pharoah does not race in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic, “NO” is the winner.

In layman’s terms, At YES, 3/1 (Racing Odds) or +300 Sports Odds, a bettor who wagered $20 today would win $60 on October 31^st plus get their original $20 that they wagered back.

On the NO bet, 5/18 (Racing Odds) or -360 Sports Odds, a bettor wagering $20 today would win $7.20 on October 31^st plus get their original $20 that they wagered back.

The Sports Odds are typically written to represent a $100 wager. +300 odds on a $100 wager equals a $300 win + $100 original wager returned. -360 odds is what the better would need to wager to win $100. So a bettor who wagered $360 on the NO would win $100 plus get his original $360 wagered back.

However, at William Hill in Nevada, the minimum sports wager is $2.

American Pharoah owner and New Jersey resident, Ahmed Zayat shared Monday on MSNBC’s Morning Joe Show that the Triple Crown winner’s next race would “probably” be the $1,000,000 William Hill Haskell Invitational on August 2 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey. American Pharoah’s Trainer, Bob Baffert, has won the William Hill Haskell Invitational a record seven times, including last year with Bayern, who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

As for whether American Pharoah will even run in the Breeders, a mile and a quarter race, Stephen Panus, vice president of America’s Best Racing, sees the fact that it is even a possibility as a boon to the sport.

Stephen Panus with son Jake, 11.

“Just the fact that this Triple Crown champion race horse is pointed towards racing more through the 2015 toward the Breeders’ Cup is an amazing opportunity for the sport to welcome and embrace many new and soon-to-be racing fans who all now desire to get a glimpse of American Pharoah,” Panus said.”At the moment, the focus is some well-deserved R&R for this Triple Crown champion.”

Panus also sees the next race to be the Haskell in Monmouth Park, NJ, and perhaps Saratoga in late August for the midsummer derby, The Travers and/or The Jockey Cup Gold Cup at Belmont Park or Super Saturday at Santa Anita in late September to possibly be in play, before heading to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. For now, it’s one race at a time.

“But we all hope and certainly have our fingers crossed that he will run at the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the richest horse race held on American soil with a purse of $5M, ” he said.

Horse racing ambassador and Churchill Downs host Joseph Kristufek puts his money on American Pharoah running in October, as well, noting with Shared Belief sidelined, he’s the best dirt horse in the world right now by far. Shared Belief was diagnosed with a hip fracture in April.

Agreeing the odds William Hill is quoting are fair, Kristufek is unwavering in his support for the champ.

“When it comes to over racing, every horse is different,” he explained. “This horse is an absolute machine. He could probably run again tomorrow.”

Willie Geist Talks Thoroughbred Racing

By @TheDailyPayoff

Willie Geist, co-host of NBC’s Today Show and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”, shared some thoughts on thoroughbred racing with America’s Best Racing recently, revealing, among other things – his favorite jockey, his heroes (not the same jockey) and his No. 1 bucket list item.

The author of “Good Talk, Dad: The Birds and the Bees..and Other Conversations We Forgot to Have,” Geist talks about his first racing event, and his first Kentucky Derby, “The deal was closed the first time I sent to the Kentucky Derby in 1995.” and a few other notable items.

For a full read of the interview, go to : http://www.americasbestracing.net/en/the-latest/news-stories/2015/6/10/q-and-a-with-today-show-co-host-willie-geist/

American Pharoah Bucking History for Triple Crown

By Frank Scandale @FScandale @TheDailyPayoff

Any number of factors could go against American Pharoah winning the Triple Crown on Saturday, not the least of which is history.
While the pre-race reports about everything from his glistening coat to his unbridled energy continue to fuel the hopes of millions that he can break the 37-year drought, history’s heartbreak lurks around each turn. And bettors know that.

Joe Kristufek, one of America’s Best Racing ambassadors and the racing analyst for Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, noted that if you are a bettor, you have to look at the trends.
“A lot of people who are gamblers and like any sport, they have to look at the trends,” he said. “At the Belmont Stakes, in addition to the fact that no horse has won the Triple Crown since 1978, and since 1996 only two favorites have won this race, and no Triple Crown winner has ever beaten seven horses in the Belmont…there is lots of history going against American Pharoah.”
Then he paused.
“That said, trends are there to be broken and, really, how good he is and how well he is doing, I think he will win.”
In Las Vegas, the gamblers are getting excited for the race, says Johnny Avello, race and sports book director at Wynn Las Vegas. He’s been studying the film of the three Triple Crown winners in the 1970s, the decade many call the Golden Era in horse racing, as well as the races of those who had a chance and came up short. During the seventies, the last era there was a winner, race fans were treated to Triple Crown winners Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978) ..

“We had three during the seventies and not one since,” he said. “Thirteen have tried, but none has won it. If we don’t get it this year, it will be disappointing. It will look like it will never happen.”
Avello said American Pharoah is the best of the group in this race. While not fresh – he ran the Preakness two weeks ago – he is a touch better than any other horse in the race.
Both Avello and Kristufek see scenarios that could thwart American Pharaoh’s heroic efforts to date. With rain down to a 10 percent chance in New York on Saturday, that element that American Pharaoh thrived in at the Preakness is an unlikely aid for him this time.

But Kristufek says if a muddy and drying track is presented, that could create some “randomness.”

Sitting in the fifth post in the eight-horse field, American Pharoah was 3-5 in the morning line. Some see Materiality (6-1), a fresh horse, possibly exhausting American Pharoah, and then letting Frosted (5-1) sneak by him.

Avello, whose book has American Pharaoh at 5-7 currently, can see the possibility of Frosted sitting behind American Pharaoh the whole race and then pulling ahead toward the end of the 1.5 mile race, the longest of the three Triple Crown legs.

“There are so many scenarios,” he quipped. But he hopes the track is dry and the weather does not play a factor because there are so many good horses on the card all day, that it would be unfortunate if unfavorable track conditions played a role.
So what is the play, Johnny?

“The play? I think nothing is sure in this game, but American Pharoah finishes first or second, and the question is who is above or below him? That is difficult. I will have to see the prices 15 or 20 minutes out,” Avello said.

Kristufek sees playing the Exacta as well, but picking the second horse is also difficult.

He had American Pharoah at 3-5 in the morning line, but could go to 2-5.
With a fast track, he says 70 percent odds American Pharaoh wins. Twenty percent Frosted wins. Ten percent Materiality wins.

One thing is for sure on Saturday. There will be 20,000 fewer fans in the stands because of restrictions imposed on the size of the crowd. In past years, complaints about overcrowding and over taxed facilities inside the track led to this year’s reduction.

The other thing both Avello and Kristufek are sure of is that many bettors will not cash the winning ticket if it is American Pharoah.

“Oh, they are holding that ticket,” Avello said.

It’s the least fans could do for the horse that might buck history.

NJ Casino Expansion Idea Heats Up

By Frank Scandale @FScandale @TheDailyPayoff

Gov. Chris Christie’s comments on 101.5 radio Wednesday has stirred visions of jackpots in northern New Jersey.

With everything from a poll by NJ.com that showed almost a 60-40 split in favor of a casino in the northern part of the state by Thursday late afternoon to a well-regarded gambling expert in the Garden State agreeing such a casino could be the most lucrative in the country, the governor’s statements fueled more speculation for an upcoming referendum.

“I have absolutely no problem with that question going on the ballot right away,” Christie said on New Jersey 101.5 FM. “The competition’s only going to grow, in New York in particular. And so, if we could plant our flag firmly in the ground, I think it would make the project even more successful.”

His comments came a day after New Jersey Sen. Ray Lesniak, whose district sits in the northern part of the state, said he would push for a referendum in November that would also call for $1 billion in revenue from such a casino to be redirected to South Jersey, according to The Press of Atlantic City. Gov. Christie also said he would approve the ballot measure if it had a component such as the one Lesniak outlined.

And his comments come against the background of an announcement that next Wednesday the Hard Rock International and Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment will detail their concept of a Hard Rock Casino in the Meadowlands. The pitch will be a potential of $400 million in annual revenue that would provide tax relief and rebuild Atlantic City, says the HudsonReporter.com

A separate poll by The Press of Atlantic City shows overwhelming opposition to the proposal, with 63 percent against the idea, 21 percent for it as long as revenue gets funneled to the South, and almost 16 percent voting for secession from North Jersey. http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com

The difference in the polls could be explained by the fact that NJ.com draws much of its readership from the central and northern parts of the state. It is affiliated with the Star Ledger, which is based in Newark in the north.

Just how realistic is the concept of a casino or more in North Jersey depends on how serious those with money want to push the issue, according to a state expert from Stockton University, located in the southern part of the state.

“It is true that a pole we did a year ago had far more people who expressed their opinion opposed to the idea,” said Izzy Posner, Executive Director, Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism at Stockton University. “When it comes to these issues, a lot of big money will support one side or the other.”

The Washington Post reported that when Maryland proposed building a casino on the edge of the nation’s capital, approximately $90 million was spent by parties supporting and opposing the measure. Posner sees that scenario shaping up in New Jersey.

At the heart of the debate is the division between North Jersey, which is densely populated and located just miles from New York City, and South Jersey, where Atlantic City casinos reside. As the city and the casino business have battled erosion these last few years, those with interests in the south fear a casino beachhead say in The Meadowlands of Bergen County, would further exacerbate the problem. The olive branch seems to be the redirection of large amounts of northern New Jersey casino revenue to the south, as proposed by Sen. Lesniak and endorsed by the governor.

Posner added: “Many interests will see southern New Jersey as a loser if casino gambling comes to North Jersey. Others see the benefits mitigated by some of tax revenue coming back to South Jersey.”

Currently, a contingent of South Jersey state legislators are expressing opposition, as well.

What Posner does see is a geographic competition ramping up as the fight for gambling dollars becomes more central to states’ economic health.

“You certainly are seeing Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut competing for gamblers. And the comments about a casino in North Jersey possibly being the most successful in the country is not hyperbole, says Posner.

Citing Aqueduct Racetrack’s casino, Resorts World Casino, in Queens, NY, Posner said that casino’s success suggests a fully licensed casino in the Meadowlands in New Jersey, for instance, could set records.

“It’s the most densely populated piece of real estate in the US and one of the most wealthy between North Jersey and Connecticut, so that kind of money would not surprise me,” Posner said.

View additional sources: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/poll_do_you_favor_allowing_casinos_being_built_in.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/politically-connected-firms-hit-jackpot-in-maryland-casino-fight/2012/11/17/f377cfb4-2e76-11e2-89d4-040c9330702a_story.html

Hudson Reporter – Hard Rock Casino Meadowlands a possibility

Triple Crown Hopeful American Pharoah has a Tale (Tail) To tell

By @TheDailyPayoff

Can Triple Crown hopeful American Pharoah win by a tail?

Does the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness have an advantage because of an abnormality in his tail end?

Read writer David Hill’s account on America’s Best Racing site to get the inside story.

view original source: http://www.americasbestracing.net/en/the-latest/blogs/2015/5/28/the-aerodynamic-advantage-of-american-pharoahs-short-tail/

– See more at: http://www.americasbestracing.net/en/the-latest/blogs/2015/5/28/the-aerodynamic-advantage-of-american-pharoahs-short-tail/#sthash.7Vld3kws.dpuf

Can Rutgers Football Beat the Oddsmakers?

By @TheDailyPayoff

Facing a difficult schedule, the Rutgers football team is facing tough odds to become bowl eligible, according to a report on NJ.com.
Citing the 5Dimes Sportsbook http://www.5dimes.eu/ , the report says Rutgers must win at least six games next season to play in a post-season bowl game.

View Original Source:
http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/index.ssf/2015/05/oddsmakers_set_rutgers_overunder_win_total_for_201.html#incart_most-comments

NJ Gov. Christie Supports Casino Expansion to North Jersey

By @TheDailyPayoff

Citing the gambling competition by other casinos, the governor of New Jersey today said he would have no problem with placing a referendum on the ballot to ultimately expand casino gambling in the northen part of the state, according to a report on NJ.com.

He tied his support to the initiative as long as the revenue helped revitalize ailing Atlantic City.

View Original source: http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/christie_favors_expanding_gaming_to_northern_nj_sa.html#incart_river

Las Vegas Weekend Action Talk

By Frank Scandale @FScandale @TheDailyPayoff

Las Vegas bookmakers are busier in May than accountants are in April, and this weekend has them taking action on more games and sports than Alex Rodriguez has homers.

Each week, The Daily Payoff will attempt to elicit from some well-regarded Las Vegas odds makers what games and events bettors are finding interesting as the weekend approaches.

This weekend, for instance, fresh off the insanity of Deflategate and The Preakness hysteria known as American Pharoah, bookmakers are looking instead at a smorgasbord of sports instead. No one event is commanding as much attention as say the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and the Kentucky Derby, but some money is flowing into everything else.

Conference finals in basketball for one book maker is the focus, while another sees the NBA and the NHL as decent draws because he says the New York Rangers always bring in extra betting.

“The Rangers are one of those hockey teams we take a lot of money on every year,” said Johnny Avello, executive director race and sports operations at Wynn Las Vegas. “If it were Rangers and Black Hawks in the finals, it would be best for networks and good for us. But if it were Rangers and Anaheim, that could be an all out war.”

Jimmy Vaccaro, director of the race and sports operations at South Point Casino, is cool on hockey in general, saying it is a niche sport that doesn’t bring in much action regardless of which teams are playing. But the prospect of a Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors final has him excited.

“Right now, most of us here are rooting for an extra 10-15 percent handle if the Caveliers would play Golden State for championship,” Vaccaro said. ” “It has marquee value and since June is one of the slowest months, we’ll take any help we can get and it would help if Lebron were playing Curry in the finals.”

And while a UFC light heavyweight title fight at the MGM Grand, some college lacrosse semi-final games and the French Open will all generate some influxes for this weekend, all eyes are already on the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6.

With the specter of American Pharaoh being the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 when Affirmed took the crown, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apBIGFWMFr0 , Avello and Vaccaro both are anticipating a bonanza of business.

“I’m writing tons of business,” Avello said.

“The Belmont will be a very good day,” added Vaccaro. “It might challenge what we do for the Derby. People want to be part of history.”Avello said his top three favorites and accompanying odds are American Pharoah at 10-11, Frosted at 4-1 and Materiality at 9-2. He suggested coming to Las Vegas in person if you are going to bet the race because the odds are better there than at the track and the “hold” percentage is 4.5 percent in Las Vegas as opposed to 16 percent at the track.

Vaccaro said it doesn’t matter what other horses are in the race from his point of view. All the betting is on whether Amerian Pharoah wins or loses.

“Most of the ticket will be on American Pharaoh. When you get into these situatons, a lot of people are buying $2 and $5 tickets and they won’t even cash them. They’ll just take them home. A lot of souvenier hunters will gobble them up.”

After the Triple Crown, the next big thing looming is the U.S. Open golf championship starting the week of June 15. VegasInsider.com, for instance, has Rory McIlroy as the the 7-1 favorite, with Jordan Speith next at 17-2 and , believe it or not, Tiger Woods at 15-1.

Vaccaro said only the Masters golf tournament generates any real financial excitement of all the majors.

“The Masters is quite different,” he said. “Tiger’s influence is waning each year he doesn’t win anything, but he still draws, just not as much.”

And then there’s baseball.

“Then summer kicks in middle of June, and you can bet any sport you want, as long as it’s baseball,”Avello cracked.

Before the season started, he said odds makers were seeing the favorites as the Angels, Tigers and Boston. “A lot of teams people were expecting big things from. But now the Royals are playing well and the Astros are getting big play. It’s still a long way to go and there will be more (odds) changes.

“In the National league, the Nationals, the Cardinals and the Dodgers are still the favorites,” he added. “But there are a lot of teams in the mix. People are betting the Mets, the Padres, and the Cubs all the time. “

Yankees?

“Yankees are in a division that is up for grabs. When the dust clears, one of the five teams can win.”

For now, the Yankees are 16-1, he said.

But if you want to load up an a real long shot for next month, look at Bradley Neil and Gunn Yang. Who? Right.

But both are 2,000-1 to win the U.S. Open

Corruption Threatens Global Sports Gambling

By @TheDailyPayoff

In case you missed it, ESPN.com’s David Purdum posted a story yesterday on how the “integrity monitors” of sports gambling are looking to the United States to take the lead in pushing for legalizing sports betting in an effort to clean up the corruption running rampant now.
He quoted a global sports security expert who said crime syndicates out of Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia were pushing European soccer, for instance, into the “danger zone” when it comes to fixing matches.
Read Purdum’s full report here :”
http://espn.go.com/chalk/story/_/id/12925786/why-legalization-sports-betting-only-first-step-us-gambling