Fantasy NASCAR game producing some ties
By Paul F. Vang
After completion of the first four weeks of the NASCAR racing season, the prediction by Montana Lottery officials that there would be an increased likelihood of tie scores among winning players proved to be right on track.
When the roar of mega horsepower engines died down on March 1, 10 players ended the day in the Montana Sports Action winner’s circle.
Two bettors placing $5 wagers, one at the Colstrip Super Stop Casino and the other at Cedar Ridge Casino in Laurel split the first place pot, each winning $1,028.60.
Seven players, five of whom placed $5 bets and two who placed $10 bets shared second place prize. The $5 players each picked up $137.10 and the two $10 players each won $274.20. Another Colstrip Super Stop Casino player won the third place prize of $822.80.
The pari-mutuel fantasy car racing games were developed to benefit Montana horse racing, and Ryan Sherman, Executive Secretary of the Montana Board of Horse Racing commented, “We're really pleased with it. There are a lot more people getting a cut of the action and I think this adds to the excitement of the game. The more people that get paid should increase the numbers of people in the pool.”
Jo Berg, Communications Director for Montana Lottery, said the car racing game is clearly picking up action from NASCAR enthusiasts. Lori Dobitz of Park City, who purchased one of those March 1 first place winning tickets, is a NASCAR fan, and makes annual trips in April to watch NASCAR action in Arizona.
Berg had earlier predicted a greater potential for ties, and points out that in the first four weeks of the fantasy game, there were ties in three of those weeks. Most of the Fantasy Racing players make $5 bets, though every week there are $20 bets, plus the occasional $50 wager.
So far, no Quick Pick players have won any prizes, either in last fall’s professional football fantasy game or in the racing game.
Duane Robinson of Conrad is a repeat winner. Robinson, who plays Fantasy Racing at Ed’s Tavern in Conrad, was a sole first place winner at conclusion of the Kobalt Tools 500 on March 8. He had previously won a one-fourth share of the second prize pool on February 22.
Whether fantasy games will meet initial expectations as a fundraiser for Montana horse racing is still an open question. Jo Berg expects they’ll have a better idea later this year when the next professional football season starts.
“If the total bets stay about the same but split between football and auto racing, then we’ll know whether it’s mainly the same people who play both games, or if these games connect with different audiences,” she said.
After four weeks, auto racing fantasy players placed a total of $20,335 in bets, or a little over $5,000 per week. 74 percent of wagers are paid to winning players. Of the remaining 26 percent, the Board of Horse Racing collects 61 percent, which amounted to $3,224 or approximately $805 per week.
The NASCAR Sprint Series didn’t hold a race on Sunday, March 15 (Beware the Ides of March?), but the race season goes hot and heavy all through spring, summer and fall.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, April 2009, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W Granite, Suite 102, Butte MT. 59701