About that Whole On-track Thing.....

Texas has always been pretty consistent about not letting their customers bet racing over the Internet. This was at the behest of the industry in Texas. A few years ago they even went to court to keep the ban on Internet betting in place.

That - and I know this is not shocking to anyone - hasn't been a good policy.

Since 2001, T-bred handle on racing in TX is down 76% (-$320M) on 52% less races (-1,029). Purses down 50% (-$15M). https://t.co/aPtmVlbCuh

— o_crunk (@o_crunk) March 15, 2017

Now, many years after the original ban, they've reversed course.

If Texas was a country it would have the 12th largest economy in the world. It would be bigger than Australia. To not embrace change, in the form of wagering over the internet, a whole swath of customers have been ignored, or worse, have left racing as a wagering pastime forever. 

Consumers have choice, and when they are not given one which fits into their lifestyles, they will substitute. They won't drive to the track, when they can do other things with their time and money in the comfort of their offices, cars, buses and homes; over tablets, phones and desktops.