Is The Key To Getting New Players Into The Game Simply Education?

I had an extremely interesting experience whilst playing poker at Grand West Casino last night.

I was in a room of about 70 players,and one of the guys wanted to watch a race at Turffontein,so the staff switched the tv onto Tellytrack.It was amazing to see how transfixed the poker players became on the race once they jumped,despite the fact that the sound was turned off.People were shouting out their number of choice,but obviously without even the slighest inkling of what they were talking about.The tv remained on Tellytrack from race 4 until the last,and on each occasion a high level of interest was shown by the poker players.

Most of the guys that know me there know that I am involved in racing,and I am constantly bombarded with questions.The common theme is that most of these guys show a degree of interest in racing,but haven't the slighest clue how to go about getting to know how it operates.Most of them didn't even know that there is a Bettingworld shop literally 20m from where they play poker,often on a daily basis.

The number of young guys who consider themselves professional poker players is astounding.They have been exposed to poker through television and therefore quickly pick up on what it is all about.How is racing going to capitalize on this new generation of gamblers who are slipping through their fingers?

These guys have a propensity to gamble,they want to earn money,and big money from an early age.Why is racing not educating them?

Jumping castles and rock bands are all very well,but the key to winning these guys over is to educate them about the game.The entry level to racing is high,it's a complicated brain game,but these kids are clearly capable of being educated.They won't be drawn towards the game if it is going to make them look stupid,being 'in' is a big part of their lives.All it takes is to convert a few to the game and the word of mouth will spread the goodwill,but how many young converts has racing really got?

Are racing education seminars the key?

I don't have the answers,merely suggestions,but it sure seems a damn side more than anyone @ PGE(we who don't listen to our customers) seem to have.

JAP,I agree with your theory 100% and have posted similar posers in the past,also after talking to poker players (ie.mostly new gamblers)

The key issue of concern that I found was the deep seated perception that racing was frequently fixed that only those in the know get the money.

It was at this point that I became so insistent that the NHA rules need review,need to make sense and to be seen to be enforced,as I believe it is paramount!

The perception that racing is crooked is a massive concern.The first question that anyone asks when they find out that I am involved in racing always revolves around this issue,from races actually being fixed to whether jockeys pull horses for bookmakers etc.I therefore have to agree 100% with you too.

Just like all other things in life,people who are uneducated cannot make informed decisions.The answer for me therefore is to inform them.How is racing going to go about doing that though,that is the question?

Most of the "old school" poker players started of as gamblers don`t know any reason why the "New School" cant become interested in racing?

JAP,in the old days I could dispel the concerns pretty much.....The old race figure system said "if the horses well.... win...... whenever ready.... hardly ever any benefit in waiting...
I believe that MR need to be conservative ,and then only in special circumstances be reduced....(the "horses lose form,not ability" adage!)

I don't think that the ability to manipulate the MR is a good advert.MR is here to stay but the " ups and downs" lends itself to manipulation,and as we know "if you can ,some will"
This would be assisted by better regulation of RUNNING ON MERIT ie.horses should be trained at home and raced on the track....horses running way below rating ,only to hear "needed run badly" or "only 80% fit"is not a good advert.
If regulation concentrates on rules that ensure horses run more on/to merit,explaining handicapping,with examples, to interested newcomers could spark the interest IMO.
(horses will always be unpredictable,but the human element should be doing as much as possible to minimise it,and then Market the fact!)
EVERYBODY starts gambling to WIN money! It can't be too difficult to convince some that "a carefully chosen horse has some appeal over a random card"

Just a thought!

Based on the number of friends/acquaintances i've taken to the track over the years i can accurately say that the majority of them weren't interested in gambling, period.

The thought of losing their hard earned cash simply scared them. Education wasn't even an option, as they didn't give you their time to do so. If they did, they probably were just being courteous by showing their attention.

JAP try changing the tv channel to 232 in a restaurant or even a sports bar next time, you'll be able to count the eyes focussed, or transfixed as you put it, on a single hand!

Last night was a case of being in the company of the same "breed", in saying that i'm in full agreement that we need to educate this "breed" urgently as this is where we could get a snowball effect, gathering the younger generation we're dearly missing.

It obviously makes sense to market racing as a 'predictable' gamble to groups that have already shown an inclination to gamble.

@ 2 Cents

Whether you are prepared to admit it or not you are addicted to gambling.So am I.The fact that we are making a living from racing is immaterial,the addiction is still there.You have to want to gamble,people that aren't are quite obviously not going to be the target market.

What is being done to identify these potential clients though.Nothing imo.

Justanotherpunter Wrote:

---

> @ 2 Cents
>
> Whether you are prepared to admit it or not you
> are addicted to gambling.So am I.The fact that we
> are making a living from racing is immaterial,the
> addiction is still there.You have to want to
> gamble,people that aren't are quite obviously not
> going to be the target market.
>
> What is being done to identify these potential
> clients though.Nothing imo.

I'm a sicko -D

When I was in Hong Kong last year I went to Sha Tin.My mate I and obviously looked a touch sheepish as we approached the 'self help' tote machines(despite 20+ years of racing experience it is intimidating when one is faced with a new challenge),but they had helpers and one obviously very quickly picked up on this.She dashed over to help us and within 30 seconds are bets were on and we were able to help ourselves for the rest of the day.How long to you think it would have taken on an SA race course.

There is no service at all in this industry,and as for education,we need say no more.

The answer is using a hand-held device--a "smart phone"--to lure these guys into racing by introducing them to a "game" that can be played on their phone. The game is directly related to horse racing, but does not initially involve making bets.

There are at least two groups working separating (and somewhat competitively) with software designers to implement the first of these games. They not only promise the benefit of introducing new, younger players into the fold, but producing vast income for prize money that has as a source fees paid by contest participants.

The beauty of this concept is that it will only add to prize money without impacting money bet on racing through traditional methods.

Shuts out the bookies, most of the "pool" goes directly to "prizes" for the contestants and prize money for horse owners.

Bookies are SOL.

Is there no point marketing to potential owners as well? This discussion has all been about gamblers.

With 'cheap' horses like Jay Peg, Lizard's Desire and J J winning multiple millions abroad, surely there's a route there for marketing syndicates to newcomers. At 5% each, the likes of those horses would have set people back less than R5k and R250 a month. You've got the potential of a big payday (yes, a very small chance but there nonetheless) and the glamorous lifestyle as drawcards.

Once they're in as owners, it's only a step further to get those same people into the gambling aspect, if they're so inclined. If not, it's still new money flowing into the industry from outside.