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"A one per cent increase in takeout means a representative player, wherever they bet in New York state, will be taxed an additional $122 per year to finance a state takeover of NYCOTB. Do the math to calculate your own tax increase." Click the link which has the 'Pay Me Now' title if you get a table of contents page.
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I think the entire OTB system should go under the NYRA umbrella. The region OTB's will still be able to live-on, but they'll all be branded the same way. "NYRA OTB" or something similar. I then think the region/county should receive something similar to the source-market fees we see in existence today with ADWs. If a wager is placed at the Albany Teletheater, then the Albany district/region or county gets a large cut of the takeout. Maybe a few extra points.
This will entice the regional offices to promote the racing product, allow NYRA to negotiate for higher rates (in turn raise purses) and put everyone on the same page instead of competing against one another.
Talk about a wagering powerhouse -- all the OTBs in NY plus NYRA under one umbrella -- suddenly simulcast rates can reach more appropriate levels than the "found money" rates from when they first came about.
I don't know much about it - but the overarching thought I have is this:
NYRA has trouble managing three tracks and keeping the water flowing and the vendors paid at Belmont on their biggest day. How are they possibly going to take possession of all this? Seems a big task for the immediate present, but in the future - who knows.
Pat,
Sources at the highest level have told me that NYRA is not interested, right now, in taking over NYCOTB, much less the entire OTB system in NY.
As you suggested, NYRA believes it has enough on its plate already -- facility improvements alone is a huge issue.
What makes that ironic is whether we will be wondering in 20 years if NYRA made a mistake on the order of the 1970s decision not to run NY OTB.
All feasibility aside, my post was more utopian in nature than realistic.