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Gambling PhD - Online Casino News - March 2004
Legislators approve online horse race
betting
BY: SCOTT GUTIERREZ
A plan to revitalize the
state's horse racing industry by allowing wagering online
or over the telephone awaits a decision from Gov. Gary
Locke.
Locke, who in the past has
been reluctant to expand gambling in the state, said
Thursday he would review the legislation carefully. Locke,
who could veto the bill, said he had not yet seen it.
"We have to take a really
hard look at it," he said. "I'm very, very concerned about
any expansion of gambling in our state. We need to be
very, very careful."
Senate Bill 6481 emerged
from the Legislature this week with strong support. The
state's only for-profit track, Emerald Downs in Auburn,
and the Horse Racing Commission, pushed for the
legislation due to a slide in revenue in recent years.
Some say the decline in horse-betting is due to
competition from the expansion of all-night casinos and
electronic slot machines that followed changes to gambling
laws in the late 1990s.
In addition to allowing
on-line wagering, it would erase limits on offsite betting
and on the simulcasts of races in other locales during
lulls at Emerald Downs. However, critics question whether
an expansion of gambling will lead to other problems.
It's uncertain just how the
odds stack up against the legislation.
The horse-racing industry
estimates that about $13 million already is wagered
illegally over the Internet, with none of that money going
back to the state. The bill would allow the Horse Racing
Commission, the track and horse owners to tap into that
money.
"It's certainly very
important for the well-being of the industry," said Ralph
Vacca, general manager of the Washington Thoroughbred
Breeders Association.
The bill's sponsor, Sen.
Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, said the state's four
nonprofit tracks are in his district. Each holds its races
during an event such as a county fair, which is beneficial
to the community, he said. Those tracks also would benefit
from the legislation.
"For me, it's about saving
the horse-racing industry. It's critical to them," he
said.
The Senate approved the
bill by a margin of 42-7. The House of Representatives
endorsed the legislation with a 79-17 vote.
Read the complete article
at:
The Olympian
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