UPDATE: NYC OTB HAS SIGNALS PULLED.. Left with NY, GG..
 

Unreal.

It really makes you wonder doesn't it?

It's not that they aren't accepting them.. they've been justifiably cut off. They likely won't have the MTH signal either. Signal after signal is going to cut them off.

No tickee, no shirtee.. as the saying goes.

Oh, I get it. I just hadn't really been paying too much attention and wanted to bet my Ju Jitsu Jax so I strolled over to the club and>>>stugots.

I agree. The life-line has to be cut.

Just checked NYC OTB;s website. No mention of not accepting Pimlico wagers.

They just started taking bets again. I was just there 25 minutes ago and they had signs plastered all over the joint saying they aren't taking bets. I come back to my desk and they are...

My disdain for the worst-run organization in the world continues to grow.

They deserve to have the signal pulled and NYRA should do the same (though I would guess legally NYRA cannot). They want to take the wagers on the track, they just don't want to pay the track for the service. Let them go belly up so the legislature can give the operation to NYRA. No pay, no play!

If you are in NYC then you likely can get a NYRA internet account and get track odds and cash back. Screw OTB!

No pay bill . No lights .

Even a 'traditionalist' like me gave up on NYCOTB (close to 2 years now).

It was hard to do:

1) loved the SMOKE FILLED enviroment -- that's right, NO SMOKING laws NOT ENFORCED

2) loved all the douchebags that frequented the place(s) -- hard not to get into an argument (or two) just about every visit

3) see above

Anyone not betting online with TS (or something of the sort) is doing old fashioned wagering.

I don't have any first hand experience with them, but from a distance, it's hard to imagine a more screwed up organization. Case after case of mistakes that hurt the business.

Agree on both points. Also, and obviously critical:

4) taking an ADDITIONAL percentage from all wagers... as if their cut for doing nothing wasn't enough.


Even if you don't want to wager online, there's much better options than NYCOTB. Hell, Meadowlands is a short train ride away and a much more pleasant off track experience.

Phil, Not sure where you are. But if you are in Jersey, Favorites on Rte 1 in Woodbridge is great. It's almost like being in a Vegas style race book.

I live in Kentucky now, and when I lived in Jersey it was before OTB's were allowed so I went to Monmouth, but good point- also the Teletheater on Long Island is nice too. Don't know how easy it is to get to by public transportation though. I always drove there from Queens.

If it is the one in Plainview, which is what I think you are talking about, it is impossible to get to with public transportation. They just put a new one in Carle Place which is pretty nice, though and not far from the train station.

New York OTB to lose Pimlico next week
By Matt Hegarty

The signal from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore will be unavailable to customers of New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation after Saturday's Preakness Stakes card because of concerns about OTB's finances raised by the New York regulators, racing officials said Friday.

The decision to bar the signal from New York City OTB's parlors and account-wagering operation was made on Friday afternoon, shortly after the New York State Racing and Wagering Board backtracked on a decision to pull the Pimlico signal from OTB as of Friday morning. Joe Mahoney, a spokesperson for the board, said on Friday afternoon that the board decided to allow betting on the signal by New York City OTB customers on Friday and Saturday because of the interest by racing fans in the cards Pimlico will offer those days.

"This is the best result for the racing fans," Mahoney said.

Pimlico's 20-day spring meet began on April 17. After Saturday's Preakness card, Pimlico will not run again until next Thursday, and the meet will close next Saturday.

The decision to bar the Pimlico signal follows the board's decision earlier this month to bar wagering by New York City OTB customers on Arlington Park near Chicago, Chester Downs in Pennsylvania, Louisiana Downs, and Thistledown racetrack in Ohio.

According to Mahoney, the board has declined to approve any simulcasting contracts for New York City OTB until the corporation "satisfactorily" responds to a request to provide the board with additional information about its financial situation. New York City OTB, which is owned by the state, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, and it is reorganizing under the protection of Chapter 9 of the bankruptcy code.

So in effect NYS officials are banning wagers on out of state tracks for the good of the out of town tracks? But the instate tracks just have to suck it up and hope that they eventually will get paid?

Pretty remarkable, eh?

EXACTLY. then they all turn the blame on NYRA, you know, the guys that never get paid. REMARKABLE!

The Wonderful folks at NYCOTB!!! are only taking bets from Belmont, Finger Lakes & Golden Gate. What a joke

The best way for the industry as a whole to deal with NYCOTB is to simply withhold the signals. If NYCOTB thinks things are bad now wait till they have nothing left to take bets on. Then they may go to the state and ask that they be able to keep 100% of the customers wagers because of the decreasing revenues. They would most likely assume that the customers mostly lose and wouldn't miss the winnings anyway.

More signals pulled from New York OTB
By Matt Hegarty

http://www.drf.com/news/article/113152.html

The number of racing signals available to customers of the bankrupt New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation dwindled even further on Thursday with an order by state regulators to pull the signal from Hollywood Park, Churchill Downs, and Calder Race Course.

The order from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board reduced New York City OTB's Friday afternoon Thoroughbred menu to two New York tracks, Belmont Park and Finger Lakes - both are required to be carried by law - and Golden Gate Fields. In addition to ordering the signals pulled, the board also told New York City OTB that it would not approve the company's simulcast contract with Monmouth Park, which opens on Saturday.

In a letter sent to New York City OTB on Thursday, the board claimed that it "has no record" of approving simulcasting contracts with the tracks. The letter, which was released to Daily Racing Form after a request by the publication, said the board is "reviewing whether or not sanctions related to the simulcasting activity referenced should be recommended or imposed."

It seems lately that somebody IN THE INDUSTRY has finally gotten through to NYS Racing board and given them the insight how to finally cut off NYC OTB and their power.

Looks like the tide has finally turned against NYC OTB. Lets keep up the pressure!:eek:

Looks like they are pulling out the big guns now to force Fruchter to resign. I wonder why Paterson just won't fire him.

TWO 4.5F baby races out of 8 at GG today. Enjoy NYCOTB followers.:rolleyes:

LOL :$:

Golden Gate? Really?

Different Subject:

Monmouth, Meadowlands, Yonkers and Saratoga have blocked there signal from Rockingham.

God i am glad i live in AZ, OTBs everywhere and never problems like this.

Unfortunately, NYRA indirectly gets screwed by this move. Since the only feed I can get in NYC is the NYCOTB feed, I cannot get the signals from those tracks blocked, therefore, I am not betting on tracks I normally would through my NYRA account. Frucher must go immediately! :mad:

Also, absolutely no explanation from NYCOTB on their website as to why these signals are being blocked, they must think that all of their customers are dumb suckers. I hope the legislature wakes up, breaks up OTB and gives the tracks control of OTB's in NY State where it should be. Though, considering how much sense consolidation would make I am not too hopeful.

Good point. The industry as a whole does have the leverage to shut down NYCOTB whether Albany likes it or not .

Will NYCOTB out efffect Monmouth handle significantly?

Have not been able to find an explanation, but NYCOTB has had many signals restored effectively immediately including Churchill, Calder, Arlington and Hollywood Park.

I know your Dad is rooting for Philly to be carried tonight...

They are carrying Philly. As much as I despise NYCOTB, I have a full day of racing I can watch from my couch today, Belmont, RBK at Philly, Churchill and Hollywood.

Thanks for the link. As much as I want to watch races from around the country, I want NYCOTB to go the way of the dinosaur and was hoping the pulling of the signals was the beginning of the end. They should not get the signals until they pay NYRA IMO.

I totally agree.