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Suffolk Downs, Horsemen Agree on Contract

After months of wrangling over minor details in the contract for the 2012 live meet that begins June 2, Suffolk Downs and the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have reached an agreement.

New Law Should Help Revenue at Canterbury

Canterbury Park didn't get slot machines, but it did win changes expected to generate more revenue from its card club to support purses.

Court Rules, Hialeah to Move Ahead With Slots

The Florida Supreme Court April 27 upheld a decision by a lower state court that authorizes Hialeah Park to have a casino with Las Vegas-style slot machines.

Pinnacle to Buy Majority Share in Retama Park

Casino operator Pinnacle Entertainment said April 26 one of its subsidiaries has an agreement to purchase a 75.5% interest in Retama Park, which is located near San Antonio, Texas.

Ohio Track in Joint Venture With Hard Rock

A Cleveland, Ohio-area racetrack has partnered with a casino company to develop a gaming facility with video lottery terminals and related entertainment offerings.

Racetrack Gaming Bill Fails in Minnesota

The Minnesota Senate State Government Committee March 19 voted 8-5 against a measure that would have authorized casino-style gambling, including slot machines, at Canterbury Park and Running Aces Harness Park.

PA Lawmakers Join Horsemen in Fighting Cuts

The Pennsylvania Horse Conference served as platform for racehorse owners, breeders, and trainers to tout support from several lawmakers who oppose a plan cut gaming revenue to purses and breed development programs.

Ontario: End Slots-at-Racetracks Program

The Ontario provincial government said March 12 it will be ending payments to racetracks through the slots-at-racetracks program in March 2013. The result could mean potential closures for many of the province's 17 tracks.

Bills on Hialeah, Other Gaming Dead for Now

The Florida legislature ended its 2012 regular session the night of March 9 and did not pass a bill that would have authorized an annual Thoroughbred meet for Hialeah Park.

NY Racetracks Touting Expansion Benefits

New York's nine racetracks, which are lobbying to expand their businesses into full-fledged casinos, claim 8,200 permanent jobs would be created if they are permitted to enhance their gaming operations.

Judge Lets Parties Intervene in Ohio VLT Case

A judge issued an order Feb. 24 allowing several gambling interests to intervene in a lawsuit filed by the Ohio Roundtable challenging a law allowing Ohio racetracks to install video lottery terminals.

Chips Are Falling - By Tom LaMarra

What has horse racing learned from 20 years of racetrack-based casino gambling?

read blog

Thayer: Senate Vote Must Respect Kentuckians

A Kentucky senator who chairs a committee that passed a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling Feb. 22 said he will oppose a call to have the bill voted on by the full Senate Feb. 23.

Groups Ask to Intervene in Ohio VLT Lawsuit

Representatives of several Ohio gambling operations testified Feb. 21 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court seeking permission to intervene in a lawsuit brought by the Ohio Roundtable.

Report Helps NY Racetrack Casinos Make Case

A report done for the New York Gaming Association says the organization's members -- nine racetrack casinos in the state -- generate almost $2 billion a year in economic output.

Ontario Horse Industry Rallies to Fight Cuts

The Ontario horse racing industry is set to hold a rally Feb. 22 to fight off potential cuts in slot machine revenue it receives from the provincial government.

Ontario Official Targets Racing's Slots Money

A top government official in Ontario Feb. 14 questioned the $345 million horse racing gets from province-operated slot machines given a $16 billion budget deficit.

Kentucky Gaming Amendment to Be Introduced

Legislation authorizing a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling in Kentucky will be introduced the morning of Feb. 14, officials said.

KY Horse Industry Cites Chamber's Support

Representatives of Kentucky's horse industry said a strong endorsement of a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Feb. 9 indicates broad support for a statewide vote on the issue.

Thayer Reveals Clients, Calls for Gaming Vote

Kentucky Sen. Damon Thayer reaffirmed his support for a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling Feb. 9, and in the wake of allegations he has conflicts of interest, released a client list for his consulting business.

Cuomo Shoots Down Plan for Belmont Casino

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is dismissing efforts to develop a casino at Belmont Park, which would serve as direct competition to the nearby video lottery terminal facility at Aqueduct.

KY Gaming Bill Sidetracked by Filing Deadline

A lawsuit over legislative redistricting and the resulting extension of the filing deadline for the November election has stalled action on a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling in Kentucky.

Beulah Park Will Likely Move to Youngstown

Penn National Gaming Inc. now plans to request to move Beulah Park near Columbus, Ohio, to a site near Youngstown rather than Dayton, according to its latest financial report.

Beshear Sticks With Gambling Amendment Plan

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said Jan. 31 he expects a casino gambling amendment to be introduced "in a few days," and again accused Republican Sen. President David Williams of attempting to derail the process.

Agreement Reached on KY Gaming Amendment

The parameters of a constitutional amendment on casino-style gambling in Kentucky have been agreed upon, and legislation will be introduced soon, the governor's office said Jan. 25.

PA Gaming Revenue Tops $3 Billion in 2011

Revenue from slot machines and table games at 10 casinos in Pennsylvania in 2011 topped $3 billion for the first time, state officials said Jan. 18.

Push for Expanded Gambling Intensifies in NY

Legislation is popping up in New York to permit additional casinos across the state, with other versions of bills placing the expanded gambling offerings at existing racetrack casinos.

Legislators Told KY Racing, Breeding Hurting

Members of the Kentucky General Assembly were told Jan. 18 the state's horse industry remains under siege from competitive forces out of state, and that action must be taken to reverse the slide.

Beshear: Gaming Could Help KY Budget Woes

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear says allowing Kentuckians to take part in casino-style gambling could generate needed money for the state budget.

Racing, Gaming on Florida Legislative Agenda

The Florida legislature began a two-month session Jan. 10 with a big part of its focus on a gaming bill that could lead to the first all-games casinos in the state along with other changes that would impact racing.

Beshear Reaffirms Push for KY Casino Vote

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear Dec. 27 reaffirmed his efforts to push for a constitutional amendment on expanded gambling in 2012, citing results of a survey on the topic.

Beshear to Push for Statewide Gambling Vote

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear will push for a 2012 constitutional amendment to expand gambling in the state.

Massachusetts Approves Casino Gambling

The Massachusetts legislature Nov. 16 passed a bill authorizing casinos in the state, and Gov. Deval Patrick is expected to sign it.

NJ Voters OK Sports Bets at Tracks, Casinos

In a largely symbolic vote, New Jersey residents Nov. 8 overwhelmingly approved sports betting at casinos and racetracks.

New Hampshire Moves Closer to Casino Gambling

New Hampshire moved closer to the expansion of gambling when a House of Representatives committee advanced a bill calling for two casinos with a combined 10,000 slot machines and table games.

Florida Casino Bill Considered Controversial

Two bills that would authorize three destination resorts with casinos, including roulette and other table games, in the southeast Florida counties of Miami-Dade and Broward were introduced in the state legislature Oct. 26.

Sprint Stakes, Optimism at Suffolk Downs

Suffolk Downs will offer its richest stakes since 2008 on Oct. 22 amid a sense of optimism brought about by passage of legislation that gives it a chance to be awarded a license for a resort casino.

Aid for Racing Protected in MA Gambling Bill

An amendment to eliminate a slot-machine facility that would dedicate 9% of gross revenue to the horse racing industry in Massachusetts as part of expanded gambling legislation was killed in the Senate Oct. 6.

PNGI Makes Pitch for Gaming at Rosecroft

Penn National Gaming Inc. is making its case for gaming at Rosecroft Raceway, the Maryland harness track it purchased earlier this year and will reopen for live racing Oct. 21.

Panelist: 'Only Racing Can Save Racing'

Racetrack gaming has poured money into the pari-mutuel industry but shouldn't be viewed as a savior, panelists said Oct. 4 during the 2011 Global Gaming Exposition in Las Vegas.

PA Casinos: $274.9M for Racing in 2010-11

Pennsylvania's 10 casinos -- racetrack and standalone -- generated $274.9 million for the state's Race Horse Development Fund in fiscal year 2010-11, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board annual report.

Stronach Group in Maryland Casino Venture

The Stronach Group, which owns Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, is part of a group that has filed an application to construct a video lottery terminal casino in downtown Baltimore.

Poll: 56% of New Yorkers OK With Casinos

The push and pull by advocates and detractors has yet to begin, but more than half of New Yorkers believe the state should permit full-fledged casinos beyond Indian-owned gambling facilities, a new poll has found.

Tribes, racetracks square off in New York

Native American tribes, racetracks square off in New York over competing plans to expand casino gambling.

Report: Illinois Racing Gets Escrow Funding

Roughly $141 million in an escrow account has been freed up for use by the Illinois horse racing industry, according to published reports.

Privatization of NJ Racetracks Progresses

Legislation authorizing the privatization of Monmouth Park and Meadowlands as well as a period of joint operation with the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority has been signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie.

NY Senator Plans Hearings on Racing, Gaming

Republican New York Sen. John Bonacic said he plans to schedule hearings this year to discuss horse racing and casino gambling in New York.

Ohio Policy Group: VLT Plan Violates Law

The Ohio Roundtable, a public policy organization, said an agreement between Republican Gov. John Kasich and casino developers that includes a provision for racetrack gaming is a "clear violation" of Ohio law.

Illinois Casino Legislation Back in Play

Legislation calling for a huge expansion of legalized gambling in Illinois is headed to the House floor after a similar bill failed earlier in the week of May 22.

Illinois Gaming Bill Fails to Clear Committee

An Illinois House of Representatives committee May 25 failed to approve legislation that would have expanded casino gambling and awarded slot machines to racetracks in the state.