Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga Announces Panel on the Future of Wagering

“The Casual Bettor, the Consistent Bettor, and the Computer-Assisted Bettor: Can They Coexist?”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY: As wagering technology accelerates and data-driven strategies reshape the betting landscape, the Racing and Gaming Conference at Saratoga (RGCS) will present a timely and provocative panel examining one of the most debated issues in modern horse racing: the rise of computer-assisted wagering (CAW) and its impact on the broader betting ecosystem.

The conference takes place August 10-12, 2026, at the Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The panel – “The Casual Bettor, the Consistent Bettor, and the Computer-Assisted Bettor: Can They Coexist?” – will bring together leading industry experts to explore how automation, algorithmic modeling, and high-volume wagering are influencing pari-mutuel markets. With CAW teams – often self-described as “advantage players” – leveraging sophisticated tools to identify pricing inefficiencies at unprecedented speed and scale, the panel will ask whether this evolution represents the natural progression of “smart money” or a fundamental shift that challenges fairness, access, and market integrity.

Panelists will examine how large, data-driven bets affect pool volatility, pricing, and liquidity, as well as the growing role of proprietary data and analytics in shaping outcomes.

The panel will be moderated by Michele Fischer, Vice President, SIS. Panelists will include:

Mark DiLorenzo, Founder, GiddyUp Bets
Marshall Gramm, Professor of Economics, Rhodes College
Don Johnson, CEO, Quantitative Trading, LLC
Christian Hellmers, CEO & Founder, Longshot Fantasy Inc.

This year’s conference will also include:

Three sessions on the afternoon of Monday, August 10
Six panels on Tuesday, August 11
Three panels on the morning of Wednesday, August 12
A Welcome Party on Monday evening at the historic Adelphi Hotel
Twilight Racing Happy Hour at the Hilton on Tuesday
A Day at the Races at the Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday afternoon. (Tickets are first‑come, first‑served, as this is one of the most popular RGCS events. Attendees will enjoy access to The Porch just steps in front of the track’s outside rail.)

Registration for the RGCS is now open! Early-bird rates are available for those who register before July 9. Additionally, a group room block is available at the Saratoga Hilton. Attendees are strongly encouraged to book early to secure their accommodation. To make reservations for our group rate at the Saratoga Hilton,

click here.

RGCS Contacts:

Sponsorship information: Josh Faber

Conference and registration questions: Jenna Wheeler

Media inquiries: Sherry Amos

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