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From 2009 to 2013 I put quite a bit thru the mutuel windows. Owned horses during that time period too. Never was a long term winner and honestly didn't put much effort into becoming one, but had a lot of scores and swings.
Visited casinos off and on over the years but went to Vegas first in 2016. Was hooked and that's where a lot of my gambling dollars went since then.
I will always love racing but won't put the $$ and time I used to put in. Between short fields, more alleged cheaters/abuse, odds changes, CAWs etc... It's not as attractive as it once was.
Yeah if you have an edge you can maybe beat the 17%+ take but I don't have an edge. So my gambling $ went to video poker, blackjack, craps over those Vegas trips. Had some winning trips, even trips, and horrendous trips(even flew home early one day blowing my trip bankroll the first night), but got a lot more value from my $$ than racing could provide.
With close to optimal play and finding good rules(such as video poker payables) the edge can be 2-4% or less. Add in comp rooms, meals and drinks based on your play and it becomes a cheap vacation...if you were gonna gamble anyway and can control yourself.
All that being said I am making it a point to get back to Keeneland, Oaklawn, Saratoga and Gulfstream the next 5 years as well as finally Santa Anita and or Del Mar. But I definitely won't be putting more than a few $100 thru the windows when I do
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