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NYRA Chief Blasts Attempts to Curb ADWs

Charlie Hayward said putting limits on out-of-state ADWs will hurt New York racing.

Belmont Attendance, Ontrack Handle Soar

Belmont Park, saying it benefited from the shutdown of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., reported increases in attendance and most pari-mutuel handle categories for its 2011 spring/summer meet.

Finger Lakes Believes Stakes Cuts Temporary

Finger Lakes Casino & Racetrack in upstate New York has eliminated nine stakes this year because of reductions in purse supplements from the New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund.

Attendance, Account Wagering Up at Aqueduct

Attendance, on-track handle, and NYRA Rewards account wagering posted substantial increases at the recently concluded 2011 Aqueduct Racetrack winter/spring race meeting, while total all-sources handle was down.

Suffolk OTB Files for Bankruptcy Protection

Three months after the closure of the state's largest off-track betting corporation, Suffolk Regional OTB has now gone through with its threat to seek Chapter 9 bankruptcy reorganization protection.

NY Assembly Approves Lower Purse Surcharge

The state Senate in New York has approved a measure to pick a new private company to run the closed New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., while the Assembly has backed a bill lowering a surcharge imposed on purses.

Bill to Re-Open NYCOTB Dies in Committee

A long-shot measure to re-open the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. failed to get enough votes to even make it out of a New York state Senate committee on March 8.

Legislative Proposal to Bring Back NYCOTB

A New York lawmaker wants to put the now-defunct New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., out to competitive bidding.

Regulators: Handle at NYRA Facilities Spikes

Total pari-mutuel handle at New York Racing Association tracks was up 76% in the first month after the shutdown of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., according to state officials.

Judge Dismisses NYCOTB Bankruptcy Case

A federal bankruptcy judge Jan. 25 dismissed the shuttered New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.'s Chapter 9 bankruptcy case, rejecting a motion by a union representing more than 1,000 fired workers.

Deal on Video Streaming Approved in New York

An agreement to permit tracks and OTB corporations in New York to stream live racing over the Internet was approved Wednesday, Dec. 22.

Video-Streaming Plan Considered by NY Groups

Racetracks and OTB corporations in New York are circulating a draft agreement to permit live video streaming of races over the Internet -- a move supporters said could help pick up some business.

New Push For New York Off-Track Betting

Seeking to make long-stalled legislative gains in the aftermath of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.'s shutdown, a number of racing interests are stepping up efforts to create a single, statewide OTB network.

NYRA Defends Raises; Others Question Timing

The New York Racing Association board of directors awarded raises to several hundred non-union employees -- a day after threatening bankruptcy if a controversial bill involving New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.

Bettors Rapidly Closing NYCOTB Accounts

Despite a furious push into the night Dec. 9 by unions to get the state Senate back to Albany to try another vote, the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. remains closed with bettors fleeing its ADW accounts by the hour.

NYSRWB Takes Action in Wake of OTB Shutdown

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board pushed through new emergency rules to make it easier and quicker for NYCOTB bettors to sign up with internet and phone wagering platforms at the state's other OTBs.

Battle Between NYRA, OTBs Resurfaces

With the future of the New York City Off Track Betting Corp. up in the air, the New York Senate returned to the Capitol to find itself in the middle of a long-standing battle between tracks and OTB corporations.

NYCOTB Could Be Reprieved by Senate

The New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. could get a last-minute reprieve from its threatened shut-down Dec. 3, following a promise by the New York state Senate to take up a reorganization bill for the state-owned entity.

Shut-Down Approved for NYCOTB

The New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. board of directors Dec. 1 approved a resolution to shut down the betting giant, affecting 1,000 workers and leaving an uncertain future.

NYCOTB Could Close Dec. 3

If New York senators don't approve a reorganization plan, the country's largest off-track betting operation will run out of money. Closing NYCOTB will mean 1,034 people will lose jobs.

NY Senate Walks; NYCOTB May Shut Down

State legislators failed to pass a plan Nov. 29 to reorganize the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. The Assembly could pass the measure but state senators have left town. NYCOTB is expected to issue pink slips.

NY Officials Threaten to Close OTBs

State officials threatened to close the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. as early as next month, creating "chaos" and costing the racing industry thousands of jobs.

Tentative ADW Deal Reached in New York

A tentative deal has been reached to let the New York Racing Association and other tracks take over the advanced deposit wagering system now run by the giant New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.

Battle Lines Drawn in NYCOTB Reorganization

Officials said they are close to a deal to try to bring New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. out of bankruptcy protection, but that a final agreement is being blocked by several harness tracks in the state.

NYCOTB Could Shed About $100 Million in Debt

Seven creditors are negotiating to clear the slate on nearly $100 million in debt owned by the New York Off-Track Betting Corp.

Document Outlines Suggestions for NYCOTB

A group of creditors involved in the NYCOTB bankruptcy proceeding has suggested a number of changes, including a 1% surcharge on wagers, according to a June document.

NYRA Among Groups Trying To Take Over OTB

A number of groups, including the New York Racing Association, have approached state officials about taking over all or part of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.

New York's 3-Legged Stool Has Collapsed

It's time for well-run, publicly-listed businesses to be allowed the opportunity to buy the NYRA tracks.

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High Salary of NYCOTB President Challenged

Two New York lawmakers say the $125,000 per month salary of the new NYCOTB president is illegal and have called for an investigation into his hiring.

'Lakes' Purse Cut Blamed on NYCOTB Payments

Officials and horsemen at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack are livid over a 12% purse cut they say was necessitated by the ongoing financial difficulties of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.

Empire State of Mind - By Evan Hammonds

There are four factors that point toward a turnaround in New York.

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NYCOTB Chairman Said to Have Resigned

The head of the embattled New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. has resigned at a time when the betting giant is attempting to create a financial survival plan, sources close to the matter said the evening of June 4.

Calder Adds Races to Weekly Schedule

Calder Casino & Race Course has added three races to its weekly schedule -- with one more race each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Audit Shows Declines at New York OTB

The financial health of off-track betting corporations in New York is "substantially" deteriorating, and policymakers must react by considering different options.

NYRA Board Presented Doomsday Scenario

The New York Racing Association could run out of cash before July 1 under a doomsday scenario provided to its board of directors.

NYRA Seeks State Loan; NYOTB Cuts Staff

NYRA may get a $17 million loan to help its cash crunch. Meanwhile, New York Off-Track Betting on April 23 cut 35 employees from his staff as it works through bankruptcy reorganization.

New York OTBs Avoid April 18 Shutdown

Seeking to avoid a "profound" impact on the state's racing industry, New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. will not shut down April 18 as planned.

NYCOTB Bailout Deal Goes Up in Smoke

An effort to bail out New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. collapsed April 14, leaving uncertainty over whether the betting giant will have to close its doors the weekend of April 17.

Lawmakers Working on NYCOTB Deal

Negotiators are closing in on a deal to keep the money-losing New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. alive for another year, but last-minute sticking points have been jamming up a final agreement the past 24 hours.

New York OTBs Will Stay Open Another Week

The Board of Directors of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. announced April 9 a temporary suspension of its planned layoffs of the organization's more than 1,300 employees, which was set to take effect April 11.

New York's OTB Facing April 11 Shutdown

The nation's largest off-track betting corporation will be shut down on the night of April 11 if a deal to provide it with financial help does not come together over the weekend, officials warn.

Legislation Would Transfer NYCOTB Operations

Legislation introduced April 2 would permit a New York state government panel to take over the operations of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. if it shuts down.

NYCOTB Chief: 'It's a Ticking Time Bomb'

New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. officials are preparing to seek a bankruptcy judge's help in deferring statutory payments to racetracks and others to avoid an April 11 shutdown.

NYCOTB to Close Down April 11

Officials in New York have failed to agree on a bailout plan for the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., which issued layoff notices Friday to its 1,300 workers as it prepares to close down April 11.

Facing Deadline, New York Seeks NYCOTB Fix

A plan quietly floated to let the New York Racing Association take over management of the internet and phone wagering business at the struggling New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. has been rejected by Gov. David Paterson.

Judge Rules NYCOTB Bankruptcy Can Proceed

New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., facing a possible shutdown, can continue its bankruptcy reorganization case, a federal judge ruled March 22.

NYCOTB Asks For Help From Tracks, State

With talks to avoid a shut-down of its operations so far stalled, NYCOTB has floated a plan to state officials to permit it to withhold certain payments to tracks and others to remain solvent the next three months

NY Horse Industry Testifies at Senate Hearing

Representatives of the Thoroughbred industry testified Feb. 3 before various New York Senate committees looking into the state of the horse racing industry.

New York OTB Report: Racing Being Threatened

A state task force is recommending a series of changes in the law to address new competition for dwindling betting dollars and repair a situation that has created a damaging war in New York racing.

NYRA: Toss Out NYCOTB Bankruptcy Petition

The recent bankruptcy petition by the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. should be tossed out of federal court, the New York Racing Association argues in a lengthy legal brief filed Jan. 4 in Manhattan.