Purses up, wagering down at Pa. horse tracks

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A report from Pennsylvania’s gambling regulators says purses paid out to winning horses have tripled since the approval of slots casinos in the state, even as wagering on races has declined.

The report from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board says tracks paid out more than $195 million in purses last year. That’s up from $62 million in 2006 when casinos began opening and gambling tax revenue started to flow into purses.

Racetrack gaming director Melinda Tucker said today the increased purses have a trickle-down effect, with much of that money going back into the state’s economy.

But while purses have risen, wagering on races has dropped $241 million since 2006. Regulators say a sagging economy and a drop in activity at off-track betting parlors are to blame.