Oaklawn Reaches Agreement With United Tote

Oaklawn Park has reached a multi-year agreement with United Tote as its new provider for race wagering, ending a long-time relationship with AmTote.

United Tote and the Arkansas track announced the new multi-year agreement Aug. 31, which the track said is the first transition in tote providers in its long history. The agreement does not affect the popular Instant Racing games, for which AmTote will continue to provide tote services.

Oaklawn's director of gaming and wagering, Bobby Geiger, cited United Tote's handling of big, on-track days as one reason for the change.

"After a competitive vetting process, we found a wagering technology partner in United Tote, with whom we are comfortable," Geiger said. "Our new partner had to demonstrate they could handle the load of big racing days. At Oaklawn, the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) and Arkansas Derby (gr. I) day crowds are enormous. United Tote provides totalizator services for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) at Churchill Downs and this past fall they handled the Breeders' Cup Championships at Keeneland. Speaking with executives from both of those venues provided additional confidence that this was the right fit for Oaklawn." 

United Tote officials said the change will fit into plans by Oaklawn to improve the on-track experience.

"We share Oaklawn Park's commitment to excellence. Their selection of United Tote for the long term has energized our entire workforce," said United Tote president Nate Simon. "No one is more proud than I am to be a new part of the Oaklawn team, one that offers the highest quality racing product and is so very well respected and renowned globally." 

"The implementation of United Tote's F4 terminals, featuring the fan favorite Enterbet Wagering User Interface, will be a noticeable upgrade for the on-track self-serve bettors," said United Tote senior sales director Vic Harrison. 

On Jan. 13 Oaklawn will begin its live 2017 racing season with United Tote's customer display application and new digital tote board indication in the infield, as well as inside the plant. 

Geiger added that he believes the self-service wagering terminals are an improvement and noted that, under AmTote, Oaklawn had been limited to 12 betting interests. For instance, this year's Southwest Stakes (gr. III) featured 14 horses but only 12 betting interests.

"From the fans' perspective," Geiger said, "the most noticeable changes for 2017 will be cutting-edge self-service wagering terminals, new high-visibility odds indication in the infield tote boards coupled with high resolution will-pay and price display, upgraded odds indication throughout the grandstand, and the ability to offer 14 separate wagering interests on a single race.

"We're bringing a lot of new features and technology to the Arkansas racing fan. We're excited. The 2017 season can't get here fast enough." 

AmTote, which assisted RaceTech in the development of Instant Racing games, will continue to provide tote services for the machines that look like slot machines but base payouts on a pari-mutuel formula and previously run races. RaceTech was founded by the Cella family, owners of Oaklawn Park.