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By: Tony Farina

Batavia Downs Gaming/WROTB continues to set new highs in numbers and attendance, continuing year-over-year increases in spectacular fashion since it began in 2005.

In 2019, credits played increased by 5.39 percent over 2018 to a staggering total of $830,339,510, a record high, and net win totals jumped to $61,996,570, an increase of 7.72 percent over 2018 and another record high.

Gaming attendance in the Batavia Downs facility was up 9.95 percent to 799,282, also setting a new record.

It should also be noted that 2020 is off to record start as credits played in January were over $70 million, an increase of 28 percent over last January while the net win total topped $5 million in January, a whopping 21.65 percent increase.

Despite the slumping horse racing industry, live racing at Batavia Downs in 2019 nonetheless enjoyed an increase over 2018.

The story is the same for the Rockin’ the Downs concert series with over $175,000 in ticket sales and over 30,000 concert goers for the nine events.   Eight shows are planned for this year and officials say ticket sales are already brisk with the season opening June 19 featuring Vince Neil of Motley Crew.

Other featured acts for this year include Journey, June 26; Molly Hatchet, July 10; Skid Row, July 17; Johnny Lang, July 24; Donald Felder (formerly of the Eagles), July 31; The Machine, Aug. 7 along with Queen Flash and The Who Show; and Puddle of Mudd, Aug. 14.

The coming year will also see more events than ever before including trade shows, psychic fairs, sports card shows, wine, beer, and spirit fests, an indoor concert series, comedy shows, fishing shows, wrestling events and kids events.

“We had an amazing year in 2019 and all signs point to continued success in the coming year which has already started out by setting records,” said Henry Wojtaszek, President and CEO of Western Regional OTB and Batavia Downs Gaming.  

Wojtaszek oversees over 500 employees as the chief executive with WROTB giving back millions every year to the OTB localities including 15 counties and 2 cities that make up the OTB network.