Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Tioga Works toward On-line Wagering

February 22, 2010

Tioga Downs Casino wants to make it easier for you to bet on horse races while boosting its own profits with a new revenue source.

The gaming center, which already takes bets on its live harness racing and simulcast races on the premises, is working with eBet Technologies Inc. to develop an Internet and phone wagering site that would allow users to bet on any horse race that's part of the agreements Tioga Downs would work out with various tracks, said Jason Settlemoir, vice president of racing and simulcast at Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs.

Launch of the Web site requires approval from the state Racing & Wagering Board, Settlemoir said. Tioga Downs wants to launch the site sometime this year, though eBet has not yet filed the required application with the state.

"We're looking to get the 20-somethings involved in horse racing," Settlemoir said. "That's been the knock against horse racing, that they missed a generation."

The Southern Tier Harness Horsemen's Association and the organizations it supports also would benefit. The Horsemen's Association and Tioga Downs have agreed to evenly split any profits generated from the Web site, said Guy Howard, president of the association.

"It's probably going to be a small amount of money, but of course in this economy, every little bit helps," Howard said.

He noted that the Horsemen's Association donates to local charitable groups, for instance, providing turkeys to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier and $7,000 to help Stray Haven Humane Society of Waverly build a facility for horses.

Catskill Off-Track Betting, which operates OTB locations in Broome and other counties, also wants an online wagering site, to better compete with existing competition on the Web.

Its application is being reviewed, said Joseph Mahoney, spokesman for the Racing & Wagering Board. He could not say how long the review will last.

"The application reflects a recognition by Catskill OTB executives that Internet wagering will become an increasingly important segment of the gaming market," Mahoney said.