A decision on the re-privatization of NYRA was delayed, but groups in the city of Saratoga Springs are taking full advantage of the well-attended summer race meet to reiterate their position in advance of the 2017 legislative session.
One of the last acts of the New York legislature before its 2016 session ended June 18 was to send a message to one of its neighbors: New York is poised to act if New Jersey moves to build casinos near the New York border.
New York lawmakers gave final passage early June 18 to a measure legalizing daily fantasy sports contests, which have been attracting a growing worldwide audience among sports fans and gamblers.
Unable to break a negotiating logjam, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers have tentatively agreed to extend the state's control of the New York Racing Association for another year rather than return it to private hands.
Defying Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York lawmakers June 15 gave final approval to legislation that would return the New York Racing Association to private control after a four-year period in which the board was dominated by appointees of the governor.
Talks have stalled over returning control of the New York Racing Association to private hands after a four-year period in which appointees of Gov. Andrew Cuomo have dominated the not-for-profit corporation's board of directors.
A measure to end the state's control of the New York Racing Association is advancing in the New York legislature, and a key lawmaker said Gov. Andrew Cuomo has still not revealed his own idea for the future of the racing organization.
Another Saratoga Springs-based organization has issued a call for privatization of the New York Racing Association as state lawmakers work on legislation that will shape the future structure of the organization.
As it waits for a decision on the future of the New York Racing Association, the organization's board of directors May 25 spent less than five minutes discussing rumors of a proposal that would keep the association under state control.
The head of the horsemen's group at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack is predicting the end of racing at the upstate Thoroughbred track, after a new state government budget deal failed to protect purse levels.
Racing and gambling matters are still in play in New York as the governor and lawmakers try in the coming week to put the finishing touches on a new state budget.
The New York State Senate budget resolution for fiscal 2016-17 includes a few recommendations for protecting revenue for the horse racing industry given impending competition from full-scale casinos.
Three New York legislative panels are seeking answers to the impact the daily fantasy sports industry is having on other sectors of the gambling industry, including horse racing and the state's own lottery system.
A panel at the Saratoga Institute for Equine, Racing, and Gaming Law on Aug. 11 discussed New York's need for a law to protect sponsors or organizers of public equine activities, such as racetracks and breeding farms.
New York off-tracking betting corporations will be permitted to dip into their capital funds to help pay for operating expenses under legislation given recent final approval by the New York lawmakers.
The New York State legislature has halted a longstanding ban against pari-mutuel wagering and live racing on Palm Sunday, a move industry supporters claim will raise revenue for tracks and the state.
Their financial performances were no secret during the year, but now the final numbers for fiscal 2014 are in and, for the first time, New York racetrack-based casinos showed their first year-to-year dip in net revenue.
New York lawmakers have given final approval to an expansion of video lottery terminal games at six of the state's nine racetrack-based casinos.
A measure giving flexibility to the financial operations of the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund passed by a comfortable margin in the state Senate, as it has every year since 2010.
Legislation has been introduced in both houses of the New York legislature to require the owners of a future commercial casino to make whole any losses suffered by horsemen and breeders at nearby Finger Lakes.
New York racetrack gaming facilities, most of which have been facing slumping financial numbers this year, will be able to stay open later into the early morning and be authorized to offer more free play.
First passed as a temporary surcharge in 2007, legislation has been signed into law again authorizing the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to receive 2% of purse proceeds at New York Racing Association tracks.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to create gambling competition for racetrack-based casinos was a topic of an hour-long, closed-door meeting June 18 with legislative leaders trying to end the 2013 legislative session.
Sen. John Bonacic, chairman of the New York Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee, introduced a measure May 23 to ban casinos on Long Island and New York City, except the borough of Queens.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said there is a big enough appetite for gambling in New York to permit the state to expand casino operations while protecting the interests of existing racetrack-based casinos.
Several of New York's racetrack gaming facilities would be first in line for full-scale casinos under legislation being finalized by Senate Republicans in the state legislature.
A New York lawmaker May 4 said he will introduce legislation authorizing off-track betting at New York City bars that offered it before New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. went bust and closed in 2010.
The New York Senate's top Republican wants Belmont Park to be included in the list of possible casino expansion locations.
The New York legislature's most powerful Democrat said Jan. 24 he would be open to further casino development at Aqueduct Racetrack, as well as several other specific locations in New York City except for Manhattan.
Legislation calling for a ban on performance-enhancing drugs in horse racing has been sent to the New York Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing lawmakers to pass the second required piece of legislation to allow up to seven new casinos in New York State.
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.
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.
Racetrack casino operators in New York are lobbying hard to protect their interests in anticipation of a potential gambling expansion and tighter licensing procedures in 2012
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.
A New York lawmaker said Sept. 13 he will introduce legislation banning use of "performance-enhancing drugs" such as the anti-bleeding medication furosemide, or Salix.
Racetracks across New York Sept. 7 will unveil a plan to amend the state constitution to permit them to offer a complete array of casino gambling as part of a proposal they say will raise revenue for the state and industry.
A six-year-old law supporters said was designed to encourage the protection of retired racehorses has been struck down by New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.
Republican New York Sen. John Bonacic said he plans to schedule hearings this year to discuss horse racing and casino gambling in New York.
Lawmakers in New York said they plan to put off until next year passage of a measure permitting casino gambling in the Catskills resort region of the state.
The operators of Aqueduct's future video lottery terminal casino have begun pressing state officials to permit table games at the facility and New York's other racetrack casinos.
The New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., facing a shutdown later in the day, was given a four-day reprieve Dec. 3 when the state Senate is due back to consider passage of a bankruptcy reorganization plan
New York Gov. David Paterson is turning up the heat on legislative leaders, prodding them to make a quick decision on the new operator to run the Aqueduct video lottery terminal casino.
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.
New York Gov. David Paterson is pushing a plan with legislative leaders to re-bid the Aqueduct casino project, a proposal that could push off a final decision until the end of the year.
New York lawmakers have given approval to move the state's equine drug-testing laboratory from Cornell University to Morrisville State College. The Senate and Assembly both approved the move March 1.
Representatives of the Thoroughbred industry testified Feb. 3 before various New York Senate committees looking into the state of the horse racing industry.
A New York horsemen's group will continue to get additional purse money to fund its operations, including health benefits for backstretch workers at New York Racing Association tracks, under final passage of legislation July 16 by the state Senate.
Having failed to get a law approved permitting racetrack casinos to offer electronic table games, New York Gov. David Paterson's Lottery Division is moving ahead with plans for the new gambling devices at the state's eight racetrack-based casinos. But a lawyer who has sued the state over past gambling expansions said the Paterson administration may be playing with legal fire.
A new top racing industry regulator is poised to be confirmed by New York lawmakers Aug. 8 when the state Senate returns for a one-day session.
