More mobile horseracing betting

US punters at horseracing tracks like Presque Isle Downs and Casino, Scioto Downs Racino and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort will be able to place bets using their smart phones and iPads following the launch this week of MTR Group’s new mobile app.

The West Virginia company allows racing fans who have pre-registered to create accounts and then bet on live or via simulcast races from specific areas on the racetrack premises. MTR is hoping that the technology will enable it to connect with a new and younger demographic comfortable with using WiFi and other mobile technologies.

Joseph Billhimer, acting president and COO for MTR Gaming said this week: “More customers have smartphones these days and this technology allows us to provide those people with a simple and secure way to place a bet without them having to leave their seats.”

He said that the new mobile wagering technology will allow customers to place bets on most races in the nation while on-property, so long as they are over the age of 18 and provide legal identification.

Fred Buro, the chief marketing officer for MTR Gaming, said that the younger generations are completely comfortable with mobile technology, using their smartphones and tablets for far more activity than merely talking to one another.

“They use them less for talking and more for communicating with the entire world across multiple online channels and networks,” Buro observed. “It stands to reason that if an industry hopes to appeal to a younger demographic, it needs to communicate with them on devices they prefer and, in the case of racing technology, on platforms they can relate to.”