Decoupling Option Part of Tribal Compact
A pricey compact between Florida Gov. Rick Scott and the Seminole Tribe allows for the decoupling of casino gambling and pari-mutuel racing, but whether that provision becomes law remains to be seen.
Racetrack Gaming
News, Articles, Videos and other content about Racetrack Gaming
Tampa Bay Finds Success Despite Competition
As Tampa Bay Downs prepared to begin its meet Nov. 28, Peter Berube, general manager at the Florida racetrack, discussed its model for success in the face of competition from tracks with alternative gaming.
Slots Spread, Illinois Tracks Can Only Watch
Illinois racetracks, which aren't permitted to have gaming machines, have watched about 5,100 other locations install slot machines which, according to a report, aren't subject to typical casino-style regulation.
Further Cuts Expected for WV Racing Dates
The West Virginia Racing Commission Nov. 18 approved customary live racing dates, but the schedules for Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort are expected to be drastically reduced.
Victory Haven Closing, May Not Reopen
Because of a reduction in horses, Lexington training center will close Dec. 1 for the winter and may not reopen.
Hearing Close on Rewrite of PA Racing Bill
State officials in Pennsylvania said they expect lawmakers the week of Nov. 16 to consider legislation that would, in part, stabilize the funding of horse racing regulation.
Ohio Racing Benefits From Misfortune in WV
The early closure of Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in West Virginia has had a positive impact on Hollywood Casino at Mahoning Valley Race Course, at least for the first six days of its 2015-16 meet.
Talks Continue on Funds for PA Regulation
Racing stakeholders in Pennsylvania are working with Gov. Tom Wolf's administration to devise a funding plan for regulation in the wake of ongoing declines in pari-mutuel handle in the state.
Opposition to Florida Decoupling Plan Expands
Horsemen's groups are rallying to head off a move to decouple live racing from casino-style gambling at pari-mutuel facilities in Florida. Currently, tracks with slot machines must also offer live racing.
ADW, Revenue Reinstatement on WV Wish List
Legislation authorizing advance deposit wagering is on the wish list for a group of racing industry stakeholders in West Virginia, according to a report that was approved by a committee.
NYRA Touts Finances, Customer Service
NYRA president Christopher Kay, whose contract extension was announced Oct. 21, said the organization most likely will experience an increase in profit this year exclusive of revenue from video lottery terminals.
Gural-Owned NY Track Tapped for Casino
A New York State panel has tapped a fourth location for a full-blown casino as the state marches closer to a final set of approvals for a casino expansion.
Florida Court Deals Gretna Racing a Setback
Gretna Racing, which won a license to offer Quarter Horse barrel racing as a steppingstone to apply for slot machines, was dealt a setback when the Florida First District Court of Appeal Oct. 2 reversed its earlier opinion.
Coming to a State Near You?
'Decoupling' of racing, gaming heating up
WV Racing Report Approval Stalls
A group of West Virginia racing stakeholders has prepared a report on the state of the industry and makes suggestions on how to improve the economics, but when it is approved remains to be seen.
Illinois Vote Could Impact Thoroughbred Dates
The Illinois Racing Board Aug. 27 granted Maywood Park permission to scrap the final three months of its harness season, a controversial decision with implications for the coming year's Thoroughbred dates.
WV Racing Industry Sets Legislative Goals
The West Virginia racing industry will pursue several initiatives during the 2016 legislative session, including statutory changes that would lower the minimum number of racing dates for which tracks must apply each year.
Delaware Park Battles With Regional Pressures
Track president Bill Fasy said Delaware Park continues to make money, but when it comes to long-term things like capital improvements, the racetrack gaming industry in the state needs some assistance.
PA Bill Would Lower Racing Dates Minimum
Pennsylvania lawmakers are examining legislation that would lower the minimum number of live racing days required at racetrack gaming facilities, and also allow each track to install slot machines at up to four OTW parlors.
ThistleDown Reaps Results of Improved Program
This year's $500,000 Ohio Derby in retrospect can be considered a success on several levels, and management at ThistleDown Racino expects the marquee race--and the overall racing product--to only get better.
Horsemen Oppose Reduction in Arlington Races
The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association is at odds with Churchill Downs Inc. over the company's plans to reduce the number of races it offers at Arlington International Racecourse.
Mountaineer Wins Approval to Drop 50 Dates
The West Virginia Racing Commission June 16 signed off on a plan by Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort to shave 50 racing programs from its 2015 schedule.
WV Racing to Have Role in Legislative Review
The West Virginia Racing Commission June 2 authorized creation of a committee that will be charged with providing information to a legislative committee that will study the state's racing and gaming industries.
Delaware Park to Kick Off 81-Day Race Meet
Delaware Park will begin its 81-day race meet May 16 with racing three or four days per week through Oct. 17 and what appears to be a fairly solid horse population given local competition for racing stock.
Indiana Governor Vetoes ADW Legislation
Saying the bill would have expanded gambling in Indiana, Gov. Mike Pence has vetoed a bill that would have allowed state residents to use advance deposit wagering to bet on horse races.
New Hampshire House Rejects Casino Bill
The New Hampshire House of Representatives, which has defeated every casino gambling bill brought to the floor over the past few decades, held true to form April 29 and voted down legislation to allow two casinos.
Race Fund Revenue Up, Handle Down in PA
Distributions to horse racing from the state Race Horse Development Fund increased 9.5% in 2014 from the previous year, according to the annual Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board benchmark report released April 28.
Belterra Park to Open; No VLT Contract Yet
Belterra Park will open its 2015 live race meet May 1 but it will do so without a contract with the Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association for video lottery terminal revenue.
WV Analysis: Purses Can't Support Race Dates
A West Virginia Racing Commission purse analysis based on revenue projections from all sources indicates the state and its racetracks have serious issues to address regarding live racing dates in the future.
New York VLT Revenue Declines in Fiscal Year
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.
Oneida Tribe Opposes NY Casino Proposal
Groups seeking to block a Finger Lakes-area casino in upstate New York have been formally joined by a politically powerful and financially deep-pocketed ally: the Oneida Indian Nation.
New York Racetracks Set to Add More VLTs
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.
New York Senator Questions Spending on Racing
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.
Study: Pari-Mutuel Revenue Down 3.5% in 2014
Revenue for state government from the nation's pari-mutuel industry dropped 3.5% in 2014 from a year earlier, according to a new report by a university system think tank.
WV Legislature to Review Racing and Gaming
Both houses of the West Virginia legislature have adopted a resolution forming a select committee that will undertake a "comprehensive study" of the state's racing and gaming industries and report its findings in 2016.
Bill Would Protect Purses at Finger Lakes
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.
Pinnacle Gets Offer From Real Estate Trust
Pinnacle Entertainment, which owns Belterra Park in Ohio and more than 10 other casinos in the United States, has confirmed it has received a proposal from Gaming and Leisure Properties to acquire its real estate assets.
Finger Lakes Sues Over Proposed Casino
The owner of Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack in upstate New York is asking a state judge to halt the awarding of a license for a new commercial casino located just 25 miles away from the 1960s-era racetrack.
Saratoga Study Touts Impact of VLT Revenue
Video lottery terminals at Aqueduct Racetrack have helped push up prices of New York-bred yearlings and increased the state's foal crop in what economic development officials say has been a far-reaching impact.
Suffolk Downs, Horsemen Have Deal for Meets
There will be a live race meet at Suffolk Downs in 2015 and 2016 now that track ownership and the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have come to terms.
New Round of Casino Bidding OK'd in New York
A New York casino panel has approved another round of bids for a gaming facility in the Southern Tier region of the state located near Binghamton and just across from the Pennsylvania border.
Hawthorne Hopes to Overcome Obstacles
Live Thoroughbred racing returned to the Chicago area Feb. 20 as Hawthorne Race Course began its season amid frigid weather and an equally challenging financial and political landscape.
Mountaineer Cuts Purses in Wake of Reductions
A state-approved 10% reduction in video lottery terminal revenue and continued softness in the regional gambling market have led officials and horsemen at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort to reduce purses.
Stronach Group Addresses Fundamental Issues
The Stronach Group remains optimistic about the future of the horse racing industry in North America and will continue to push for what it believes are fundamental structural changes needed to move the business forward.
Officials: KY Thoroughbred Industry Resilient
The Kentucky Thoroughbred industry is more than holding its own despite national declines and the absence of alternative revenue sources available in other states, officials said Feb. 3 at the CBA symposium.
Ohio Begins Examination of Medication Rules
As part of an examination of its equine medication rules, the Ohio State Racing Commission in February will begin hearing from various industry organizations involved in an effort to adopt uniform policies for all states.
NY Southern Tier Reopened for Casino Bidding
A New York panel has begun anew the process for awarding a commercial casino license in the state's Southern Tier region after the urging of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
WV County Wants Horse Racing Funds Protected
The governing body of Jefferson County, W.Va., where Charles Town Races is located, plans to send a message to state legislators that further reductions in the share of gaming revenue that supports racing are unacceptable.
Handle Down, Purses Up at Laurel, Pimlico
The Maryland Jockey Club reported a decrease in pari-mutuel handle on live racing at Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course in 2014, but total and average purses were up from 2013.
Mahoning Valley Ends Meet With Record Handle
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course ended its inaugural meet Dec. 30 with record total pari-mutuel handle of $1,102,566.
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