"Race Tracks Getting Beat by Offshore Betting"

Lobbyists for the Bay State’s racetrack businesses have been attempting to compete with the online gambling industry for years by pushing for the introduction of slot machines. Up until now they have not been successful. Anyway as it is well known, those in the state who want to try their hand at gambling can, setting comfortably in their own home, turn on his computer and click over to anyone of scores of online casinos. At such sites they are free to choose from an assortment of wagering games like bingo, craps, poker, blackjack, roulette and others.

Therefore the racetrack operators are bemoaning the day that the Internet started to become popular in the gambling industry. The lure of Internet gambling is slowly and surely drawing gamblers away from racetracks. Add to this the fact that many online casinos are offering between 10% to 15% in cash rebates on all bets and it becomes apparent that the trend toward betting online rather than at racetracks does not seem very likely to falter anytime soon.

The United States Government basing its position on the 1960’s era Wire Act, has taken the position that Internet gambling is illegal. That act prohibited the use of the phone lines for the placing of bets, as opposed to the Internet, and consequently law enforcement officials have been hesitant to go after individual gamblers. This has resulted in the loss of billions of dollars to offshore gambling casinos. George Carney, owner of Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park, when speaking about the impact that online gambling has had on his business, that it is as if they have one arm tied behind their back with both legs shackled. Internet gambling industry analysts have estimated that there will be as much as a projected ten billion dollars that will be bet nationwide online this year, and all of this tax-free.

State Representative David Flynne (D – Bridgewater) is working to lead efforts within his state to make online gambling completely illegal. He is reported as saying that online gambling is ‘running rampant’ and definitely hurting the government and economy. While speaking with regard to damages caused to the employment rate of his state, Flynne has been reported as saying that state government has been very lax in regard to its protection of this industry that employs over 6,000 people. He believes that in fact they are helping the forces that bringing racing to an end.

In addition to online gambling, which has been making encroachments on racetrack betting, satellite TV also makes it possible for gamblers to set up betting accounts and to bet on live racing from their home. While the racetrack industry, which in contrast is highly regulated, TV and online gambling permit players unlimited betting worldwide. Gary Temple, Raynham-Taunton assistant manager has pointed out how they are actually operating as bookies. Within this context, he complains, there is no regulation at all and he says that they are killing the racing industry, which on the other hand, according to Temple, is so regulated.

Recently the Government has been taking steps to go after online casinos in Antigua and Barbados. This has some in the racetrack industry feeling hopeful, but most still fear that the popularity of Internet gambling is already too strong a force to deal with or to eliminate completely and that the racetrack business can look forward to ongoing suffering.