The New York Racing Association reported net income of $8.2 million for the first six months of 2013, up 2% from the same period in 2012 because of an increase in video lottery terminal revenue and a decrease in expenses.
Suffolk Downs reported progress Aug. 27 in its quest for a casino license.
Though a measure to expand gambling in New Hampshire and open the door to the possible return of live racing at Rockingham Park failed in the state legislature in May, the prime sponsor of the bill said he will try again.
As it approaches its biggest day of the year racing-wise, Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort is trying to hold its own in a glutted regional gambling market.
The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments on whether a public policy group that had filed suit over the 2011 law that authorized video lottery terminals at Ohio racetracks has standing to appeal.
Penn National Gaming Inc. reported a net loss of $12.2 million for the second quarter of 2013, compared with a profit of $69.6 million for the three months in 2012.
The Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has told Calder Casino & Race Course it will withhold its consent for simulcast approval effective July 25 because the group has no purse contract with the track.
The lack of an agreement on a revenue split from video lottery terminals continues to keep the signal from ThistleDown Racino from being exported outside of Ohio.
The Ohio Roundtable said June 21 it will not file a memorandum in reply to the state's request that the Ohio Supreme Court not hear the public policy group's appeal of a lower court ruling that rejected its challenge to VLTs.
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.
Ohio's two operating racetrack casinos reported revenue increases in May when compared with the previous month, according to Ohio Lottery Commission documents.
Penn National Gaming Inc., in partnership with another company, has submitted a plan to build a racetrack casino in Lawrence County, Pa., not far from its proposed Hollywood Mahoning Valley Race Course near Youngstown, Ohio.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office May 28 asked the state Supreme Court to reject an appeal filed by a public policy group that is challenging the constitutionality of a 2011 law that authorized VLTs at racetracks.
A New York racetrack hoping to be considered for a full-scale casino announced a $30 million development project that will include a hotel, event center, and upscale restaurant.
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.
The Toronto City Council May 20 voted 24-20 against expansion of the gaming facility at Woodbine to include more slot machines and table games.
A request for authorization for an economic study on Thoroughbred and Greyhound racing and breeding in West Virginia shed light on the friction between the racing and gaming sectors in the state.
The West Virginia Racing Commission May 21 rejected a controversial interagency agreement that owners, trainers, and breeders claim would have put the state Lottery Commission in charge of Thoroughbred and Greyhound racing.
The Ohio Attorney General's office has asked the state Supreme Court not to hear an appeal by a public policy group challenging the 2011 law authorizing video lottery terminals at racetracks.
The Maryland Jockey Club expects to begin construction on new barns at Laurel Park this year as part of a long-term capital improvement plan, but it is holding off on announcing details of renovations at Pimlico Race Course.
The New Hampshire House subcommittee studying expanded gambling narrowly voted May 15 to recommend that the bill to allow one high-end, highly-regulated destination casino be killed, but the full House will have its say.
After reaching short-term agreements with 11 of the province's 17 racetracks to continue live racing for 2013, the Ontario government is ready to map out a long-term plan for the industry.
Penn National Gaming Inc. has submitted a formal proposal to build a $700 million casino and resort on the grounds of Rosecroft Raceway, a harness track located just south of Washington, D.C., in Prince George's County, Md.
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.
With strong assistance from its video lottery terminal operation at Scioto Downs in Ohio, MTR Gaming Group greatly reduced its net loss for the first quarter of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012.
Millennium Gaming has upped its ante significantly for the casino project it hopes to develop at Rockingham Park, but the company hasn't decided whether live Thoroughbred racing will return should it win a gaming license.
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.
The Pennsylvania horse racing and breeding industry, currently concerned about a steady decline in the revenue it gets from slot machines, got some surprise public relations May 3 courtesy of the grade I Kentucky Oaks.
Illinois racing dates may be vacated and laboratory operations curtailed if the state legislature does not quickly reauthorize advance deposit wagering, Illinois Racing Board officials said April 30.
The New York Gaming Association April 29 released a report that shows its nine racetrack-based casino facilities generated $1.8 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2012 and turned over $823 million in taxes to the state.
After a year of uncertainty due to the cancellation of the Ontario slots-at-racetracks program, Woodbine is set to begin its 133-day Thoroughbred meet April 20.
The West Virginia Racing Commission April 16 approved the expenditure of more than $2 million for projects and promotions at two racetracks.
The Ohio State Racing Commission April 16 once again deferred action on a proposal to transfer the River Downs meet to Beulah Park because horsemen and Penn National Gaming Inc. have no contract for the meet.
Members of the Ontario Public Accounts Committee passed a binding motion April 10 that calls for the Auditor General's office to investigate cancellation of the slots-at-racetracks program.
The Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has informed Thistledown it won't grant the track approval to export its signal when live racing begins April 19 because it has no deal with horsemen on VLT revenue.
As the first Thoroughbred track in Ohio prepares to open its video lottery terminal facility, purses are up. But some longtime horsemen in the state are on a waiting list for stalls.
Republican Gov. John Kasich April 1 signed into law a transportation bill that includes an amendment that would facilitate transfer of the 2013 River Downs race meet to Beulah Park.
A plan to shift the 2013 River Downs meet to Beulah Park remains on hold, and developers of new racetrack gaming facilities in Ohio were told to go back to the drawing board in terms of indoor seating for racing patrons.
Purses paid at six racetracks in Pennsylvania in 2012 increased 1% while wagering on the live product was up 12% from the previous year, according to the latest benchmark report prepared by regulators.
The Ontario government said March 26 it has reached "tentative transition funding agreements" with Fort Erie and two harness tracks, Flamboro Downs and Georgian Downs.
Legislation creating the Kansas Agriculture Opportunity Act would lower the tax rate on electronic gaming machines in an effort to get racetracks to install them, and also increase the amount of revenue for purses.
Companies that plan to construct new racetrack gaming facilities in Ohio have been summoned to appear before the Ohio State Racing Commission for a third time March 27.
The Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association said March 19 it is "working closely" with Ontario lawmakers to extend the slots-at-racetracks program in the province.
The Ohio State Racing Commission March 12 continued its examination of plans for proposed racetrack casinos, peppering Penn National Gaming Inc. officials with questions about facilities planned for Dayton and Austintown.
Woodbine Entertainment Group said March 8 it is "pleased" Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne plans a stronger partnership between the province and horse racing industry. But it remains to be seen how much revenue is at stake.
MTR Gaming Group reported a 14.5% improvement in revenue in 2012 despite an increase in competition from other casinos, the company reported March 7 in its latest earnings report.
Legislation introduced in the West Virginia Senate March 6 calls for several statutory changes regarding racing, including a substantial reduction in the minimum number of dates a track must schedule each year.
The Pennsylvania Equine Coalition, noting another monthly loss in revenue from slot machines at racetrack casinos, predicts an overall reduction of $17 million in the Race Horse Development Fund for fiscal year 2012-13.
A Texas lawmaker has introduced legislation that would authorize a constitutional amendment on video lottery terminals at racetracks and at tribal facilities.
The Kentucky House Feb. 27 passed legislation that in part would take revenue from historical race wagering to fund pensions for state workers, but one lawmaker questioned the bill's impact on the horse industry.
