New York Online Horse Wagering Finds Supporters

ALBANY, New York – As reported by the (New York) Times Herald-Record: "New Yorkers would be able to legally wager on trotters and thoroughbreds with the click of a mouse if horse-racing industry advocates and some state lawmakers have their way.

"State Off-Track Betting franchises and the lawmakers who oversee gambling legislation yesterday called for legalizing Internet wagering on horse racing.

"Such betting is already allowed in other states, like New Jersey, and New Yorkers are increasingly skirting the law by using 'off-shore' sites to bet the ponies.

"'They (off-shore betting sites) made a big business out of taking business from us,' said Don Groth, president of Catskill OTB, which covers 10 counties from the Connecticut line to Elmira.

"…Sen. Bill Larkin, R-C-Cornwall-on-Hudson, chairman of the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee, said he expects to introduce legislation today to permit Internet wagering. The state already allows OTB franchises to take bets placed by phone.

"…The push for Internet wagering was one of several plans floated yesterday during a joint legislative hearing on reviving the state's struggling horse-racing industry…"