Aqueduct racino deal falls through
(NEW YORK) -- The long-awaited deal to name an Aqueduct gaming operator has fallen through, leaving New York's Thoroughbred industry in disarray.
House leaders cool to Instant Racing
(KENTUCKY) -- House leadership reacted coolly Friday to a proposal in the Senate to allow Kentucky tracks to operate an electronic game that — while resembling a slot machine — lets players bet on old races.
N.Y. scraps Aqueduct casino deal
(NEW YORK) -- A deal to open a casino at Aqueduct is dead again. New York Gov. David Paterson said in a statement issued Thursday that the state's lottery "has concluded that it cannot issue a gaming license to Aqueduct Entertainment Group," the sprawling partnership whose selection in late January by state government leaders to operate the casino sparked criticism and controversy.
Instant Racing Called 'Competitive' Product
(ARKANSAS) -- An executive with RaceTech, the company that produces Instant Racing machines, said the product has held up well against electronic games of skill at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas.
Slot Machines at Aqueduct? No, Not Yet
(NEW YORK) -- The state’s tortured eight-year quest to install a limited casino at the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens has failed for the third time, with the governor’s office announcing Thursday that its chosen bidder would not be awarded the contract.
NY state must pick new Aqueduct slot vendor-Gov
(NEW YORK) -- New York should choose a new slot machine vendor for Aqueduct Racetrack in a quick and "apolitical" manner now that the Lottery Division has rejected the winning bidder, Governor David Paterson said Thursday.
Panel backs e-racing bill
(KENTUCKY) -- A bill to allow Kentucky racetracks to operate an electronic horse racing game - a way to help the financially troubled industry - won approval from a Senate committee Thursday.
KY Racing Aid Bill Called 'Life Preserver'
(KENTUCKY) -- Legislation authorizing Instant Racing, a tax on advance deposit wagering, and a reduction in the pari-mutuel excise tax sailed through the Kentucky Senate Committee on State and Local Government March 11 and heads to the full Senate, where it’s expected to pass.
Florida Interests Split On Abruzzo Poker Bill
(FLORIDA) -- Although backed by one of the most influential lobbying firms in Florida, online poker legislation there is facing opposition from reluctant parimutuel operators, a wary offshore industry and a tribal gaming powerhouse.
Plan to build Aqueduct Racetrack casino rejected
(NEW YORK) -- A partnership that includes Las Vegas-based Navegante Group was rejected Thursday by New York licensing authorities to build and operate a lucrative slot machine casino at the Aqueduct Racetrack.
NY Governor Nixes Aqueduct Bidder
(NEW YORK) -- Plans to build a racino at the Aqueduct racetrack in New York have been thrown into turmoil after the Governor’s office yesterday rejected the chosen bidder’s application for a New York state gaming license.
Top Aqueduct bidder is scratched
(NEW YORK) -- Opening a new hole in the state's financial plan, the Paterson administration on Thursday disqualified the winning bidder to develop and operate a racino at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens.
Bill seeks to bolster horse racing industry
(KENTUCKY) -- Lawmakers worried about preserving Kentucky's horse capital status presented a plan Thursday that offers a cash infusion to bolster the state's racing industry by taxing Internet betting and allowing a new form of gambling on old horse races.
Aqueduct Casino Deal is Dead
(NEW YORK) -- Gov. David A. Paterson’s office announced on Thursday that the company he had chosen to build and run a casino at the Aqueduct racetrack could not pass muster with state licensing officials and would not be awarded the lucrative contract.
NY gov drops support for Aqueduct racino group
(NEW YORK) -- Gov. David Paterson's administration dropped its support Thursday for a consortium chosen to build and operate up to 4,500 video slot machines at the Aqueduct racetrack, promising to further delay the 8-year-old plan to put a lucrative racino in Queens.
Jay-Z pulls out of casino project
(NEW YORK) -- Rap mogul Jay-Z has scrapped plans to invest in a new racetrack casino project in New York after state officials allegedly ordered all the backers to hand over detailed records of their finances.
Gov. Deval Patrick rejects talk of compromise over slots at racetracks
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- Gov. Deval Patrick is not leaving much wiggle room in his position on slots at racetracks. Following a speech in Marlboro, Patrick told the Herald he would reject a compromise that would allow slots at racetracks up until the first resort-style casino is built in the Bay State.
Harrah’s ups ante, will hire 500 new workers
(PENNSYLVANIA) -- Five hundred is sounding like a lucky number for job-seekers in the Delaware County area. Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack plans to hire 500 additional employees to fill jobs created by the legalization of table games by the state in January.
Man Attacked With Rock At Gulfstream
(FLORIDA) -- It was nearly noon Monday in a busy Gulfstream race track and casino parking lot. The last thing club manager John Klecha was thinking about was being attacked, as he headed to the bank with the weekend earnings from Club MIVI.
Backers bail on slots plot at Aqueduct
(NEW YORK) -- AEG's bid to run video slots at Aqueduct looked ready to be put down yesterday. Queens minister Floyd Flake and rapper Jay-Z bailed out as key local partners in the Aqueduct Entertainment Group, while Gov. Paterson's office threatened to kill the deal.
Vernon Downs to hold job fair
(NEW YORK) -- If you are looking for work in this down economy, you might want to head to Vernon Downs Casino & Hotel this weekend. Vernon Downs is holding a job fair Saturday March 13th from 8a.m.-1p.m.
Public hearing on table games set
(PENNSYLVANIA) -- A public hearing is scheduled for March 24 to allow the public to comment about plans for table games at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course that will generate 439 jobs.
A state in shambles
(NEW YORK) -- Among horseplayers, cynics abound. Rose-colored glasses are rarely found among those who read the Daily Racing Form, the trade magazines and Internet sites devoted the most battered of sports but in New York healthy cynicism has been cloaked in a pervasive melancholy and occasional anxiety.
Table-games approval favors Valley View
(PENNSYLVANIA) -- Legalization of table games in Pennsylvania casinos may prove to be a deciding factor in whether Valley View Downs is ultimately successful in building its harness racetrack/casino in Mahoning Township.
Minister Withdraws as Investor in Aqueduct Casino
(NEW YORK) -- The Rev. Floyd H. Flake, one of New York’s most influential black pastors, announced on Tuesday that he had removed himself as an investor in the company that was chosen by Gov. David A. Paterson to build and operate a casino at the Aqueduct racetrack in Queens.
Paterson Recuses Himself From Racino Project
(NEW YORK) -- Gov. David Paterson just revealed he has taken himself out of the loop when it comes to consideration of Aqueduct Entertainment Group's controversial bid to land the lucrative racino contract in Queens.
ARLENE VIOLET - Twin River's bad deal back on the table
(RHODE ISLAND) -- The only thing worse than one mistake is many mistakes. When it comes to the Twin River slot parlor (or the casino, as it calls itself on its Web site,) Rhode Island has bought into one bad deal after another. The newest proposal is another bad deal.
Calder Casino Gets Off to Modest Start
(FLORIDA) -- During the first full month of operation, slot machines at Calder Casino & Race Course placed third in pre-tax revenue among the five pari-mutuel casinos in southeast Florida.
BLOG: Jay-Z Pulls out of Controversial 'Racino' Project
(NEW YORK) -- This whole aqueduct bid has been a bit of a nightmare for Jay-Z. To recap, Hov has had a minor share in a company called AEG (Aqueduct Entertainment Group) that won a contract to open up New York's aqueduct to gambling with video lottery terminals.
COMMENTARY: My Day at the Race Track Casino
(VIRGINIA) -- I spent much of my childhood at race tracks. Usually not nice race tracks. Although we would make an occasional journey to Keeneland or Churchill Downs, most of the trips were to run-down facilities, such as the old Latonia race course, River Downs in Cincinnati and a really awful harness racing track in Lebanon, Ohio.
Racino Strategy Heading For Opposition In Massachusetts
(MASSACHUSETTS) -- Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo’s long-awaited proposal to legalise expanded gambling in the New England state steals a page from Pennsylvania’s racino-heavy playbook, industry observers say.
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