In yet another pitch to expand sports gambling in New York, Assemblyman Dave Weprin filed resolution A5923, which proposes an amendment to the state constitution to permit sportsbooks at thoroughbred and harness tracks throughout the state.
The purpose would be to allow bettors an avenue to wager in person without visiting the four upstate casinos or a tribal casino. The proposed law would extend the concept to off track betting facilities as well.
The legislation could also provide a stimulus for the racing industry, maybe even boost the racing handle.
Last year, California saw a sports betting initiative proposed that would authorize in-person betting at racetracks. Larry Swartzlander, head of the California Authority of Racing Fairs, was skeptical (so were voters).
If the law had passed, Swartzlander told PlayCA, “Santa Anita can build a sportsbook. Who just closed down their sports wagering? Churchill Downs. It doesn’t work at a single, brick and mortar facility.”
Pat Cummings, the executive director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, said the pari-mutuel model can pose a potential problem.
“Those wishing to get pari-mutuel racing to a single-wallet platform that reaches sports bettors wrongly assume those customers won’t care that a horse they bet at 10-1 when loading goes to 5-1 ten seconds after the start of the race, once all betting is reflected,” Cummings said. “That is the everyday reality in North American racing’s pari-mutuel landscape. Sports bettors know what price they are going to get when they bet. That experience is practically non-existent in U.S. racing today.”
