Meadowlands Early and Late Pick Four minimum reduced to 50-cents

[LVGaryD]

Beginning with the Friday, May 2nd racing program at The Meadowlands, the minimum bet required for the Early and Late Pick Four wagers will be fifty-cents.  The decision was made due to the majority of customers expressing their desire for having the minimum bet for the two wagers reduced.

“For the past 18 months, this is something that we have been thinking about,” said Director of Racing Operations Darin Zoccali.  “I have posed the question several times to our customers and have utilized social media looking for input as well.  Over the past 18 months, I have seen a change in the majority opinion on the matter.  Previously, the majority of our players liked the $1 minimum.  About one year ago, it became more of a 50/50 split. 

Now, the majority of our players appear to prefer a $.50 cent minimum wager.  I have asked many of our customers, but the deciding factor was a recent poll we placed on Facebook, asking our customers if they prefer a $.50 cent or $1 minimum wager for the two pick four wagers.  The result was overwhelming with 86% of those responding opting for the $.50 cent minimum.”

“I understand there are some players who prefer the $1 minimum,” added Zoccali, “and I understand their argument for keeping it at $1.  The bottom line is the vast majority of bettors have voiced a preference for a reduction of the minimum to fifty cents and it would be bad customer service to not provide something the vast majority of our customers clearly want.  In addition, the pick five wager is thriving and it carries a fifty cent minimum wager as well.  We have kept our pick four minimum at $1 longer than just about any other racetrack, but the industry is evolving and we need to adapt to that evolution.  Additionally, I think this will lead to an increase in the average pool size for both wagers, which is something all our bettors would want.”

The $.50 cent minimum wager will be placed on both the Early Pick Four (Races 3 – 6) and the Late Pick Four (Races 7 – 10) effective Friday, May 2nd.

By: Daren Zoccali

[LVGaryD]

Now even Hal might play the pick fours. 

[careless hal]

Now even Hal might play the pick fours. 

Still like the 20 centers at Woodbine!   Will start saving up.  We poor folk who live on Social Security have to watch our nickels and dimes!!

[RocknRoll]

Well there goes the payouts, you can start expecting less when you hit a pick 4 now there.

[LVGaryD]

Well there goes the payouts, you can start expecting less when you hit a pick 4 now there.

Gabe Prewitt said exactly the same thing this morning. I never hit one, so I don't pay much attention except when one of you guys hit one.

[Gazoo]

Well there goes the payouts, you can start expecting less when you hit a pick 4 now there.

I hate the idea , there goes any chance of having a carryover .

[CyberChamp]

Totally agree with Gazoo and Rocknroll. The only upside is perhaps avoiding a few small signers, but this will take away the chance of big payoffs.

 

[maywoodmaniac]

I'm sure their Facebook claim is true but they really did not have much of a choice.

I remember the Late Pick 4 having $75k guaranteed pools last year and the races were well bet.

Yes, the winter weather had some impact in January and February but the numbers have dwindled in March and April.

Gotta do something to spur some interest.

[Gazoo]

Yes, the winter weather had some impact in January and February but the numbers have dwindled in March and April.

Gotta do something to spur some interest.

I think it had more to do with the lousy product they put on the track in Jan and Feb.

[RocknRoll]

I think it had more to do with the lousy product they put on the track in Jan and Feb.

It absolutely has to do with the lousy product. If they had great races with the best trainers and drivers every night everyone would have been betting there instead of looking for someplace else to bet. Like Champ said the only upside is possibly avoiding signers by playing two $.50 tickets instead of playing one $1 ticket. I don't see how they had no choice, this doesn't guarantee they'll get more $ in the pool, if they want better pools offer a better product. How convenient they do this now that the good horses and drivers are now done with the Matchmaker and Levy, so they can say how great of an idea it was that the pools are up because of the $.50 wager, not that the product might have improved and brought the betters back with it. 

[careless hal]

With all the competition and no slot subsidies, they can't offer a better product.  It is what it is.  If you bet $200-500 a night on the pick 4s, those small signers you avoid will add up and save mucho tax dollars.  Also.  You now can play a ticket with a lot more numbers on it resulting in hitting more often.  So, really the total return on investment should compare favorably with the $1 bet of before.  The theory holds that more will now play and pools will be larger.  We shall see.

[tonyb147]

With all the competition and no slot subsidies, they can't offer a better product.  It is what it is.  If you bet $200-500 a night on the pick 4s, those small signers you avoid will add up and save mucho tax dollars.  Also.  You now can play a ticket with a lot more numbers on it resulting in hitting more often.  So, really the total return on investment should compare favorably with the $1 bet of before.  The theory holds that more will now play and pools will be larger.  We shall see.

True, but that's the concern; the ability to play more numbers also potentially kills the large payout as they are more likely to be covered more often by more bettors.

Personally I think it goes both ways. The large payouts will likely be slightly reduced because they are more likely to be covered BUT the "chalky" payouts may be better since the money is spread out on more combinations.

I don't play WEG much but some of those 20 cent PK4 payouts are often real good when you look at the win prices.

[3 wide and wingin]

I like having more options and it will lead to bigger pools or the Big M wouldn't do it. I like that also.

There also hasn't been a pick 4 carry over this year.
So it wasn't like it was very common.

[Gazoo]

How convenient they do this now that the good horses and drivers are now done with the Matchmaker and Levy, so they can say how great of an idea it was that the pools are up because of the $.50 wager, not that the product might have improved and brought the betters back with it.

I was thinking the same thing , and im not so sure the pools will go up that much anyway.

[NIATROSS]

I'm sure their Facebook claim is true but they really did not have much of a choice.

I remember the Late Pick 4 having $75k guaranteed pools last year and the races were well bet.

Yes, the winter weather had some impact in January and February but the numbers have dwindled in March and April.

Gotta do something to spur some interest.

the facebook claim maybe true but i doubt the majority of serious gamblers spend much time on facebook