NYS OTB plan at NYRA's expense (of course)
 

Aid to offtrack betting company could hurt NYRA
By MATT HEGARTY

http://www.drf.com/news/article/94367.html


For those who refused to understand during the franchise negotiations why NYRA was in the position it was these last 10 years, be sure to see Hegarty's piece showing Albany's answer to the (hollow) Bloomberg threat of NYC-OTB closure.

As a reminder, it was NYC-OTB THEMSELVES that damaged their own bottom line 4 years ago making a deal to pay a bonus to harness operators in exchange for a thoroughbred night racing signals. Now they're crying a Chicken Little song and NYRA is the one that would feel it should Albany help the NYC-OTB Corp.

Sickening, and yet another example of how the state failed to properly address all these elements of NY racing as part of the franchise renewal process as we were promised. Former Governor Pataki, who should be prosecuted, was too busy conspiring with Jeff Perle to foist the franchise away from NYRA to worry about the future and actual nuts and bolts of racing here.

Well NYRA should just get rid of OTB and set up small shops that have internet wagering. Even the older people can figure it out if there is someone to help.

There is no reason for OTB any longer. It is essentially a place for people to go and hang out. They can do the same things with a few computers set up to take wagers.

So, the do nothing middleman deserves a bigger cut?.... Unreal.

They don't need a middleman.

How do you propose that NYRA does this?

How do you suggest NYRA does this? I'm sure they'd be interested to know.

You open up the equivalent of internet cafes. No tellers, no middle people. Just TV's and computers. It is much cheaper than paying tellers. No cash involved. Just like betting at home. You don't need to worry about paying for signals. You just cut a deal with HRTV and TVG or whoever already has the signal.

Would be logical... but since NYRA has zero jurisdiction over NYCOTB, they cannot just "get rid of them".

I find this whole story, from Bloomberg's threatening on, to be truly comical and an indictment of how poorly government agencies are run. If I had a business which offered ZERO customer service, the surliest employees this side of McDonalds, antiquated facilities which have not seen capital improvements since 1982 (the privately-held restaurants not included), no fixed costs besides rent and labor, and a HIGHER operating margin than the plant actually producing the product- and I went to a bank and said "I need a loan to continue operations, I can't make money on this venture" they would LAUGH ME OUT THE DOOR.

NYCOTB is a political SHAM of a corporation, and I'm convinced a careful audit of their books would yield side-door deals for $1,000 lightbulbs and $100 pens with shell companies owned by such frauds as Sheldon Silver.

Not what I asked. Agani, how do you suggest NYRA "just get rid" of NYCOTB?

That's what I was wondering as well. It's like UPS just getting rid of FedEx.

They can't. It is up to the government. NYRA needs to make the argument that more money will come into the state if they get rid of OTB's. It isn't that hard of an argument to make. The problem is the NY government is totally corrupt and NYRA doesn't really have a reputation where they can be pointing fingers at a corrupt institution.

I am not sure but NYRA can also play hardball and just not accept wagers from NY OTB's until they get a fair deal.

Whatver the NYRA can do to get a fair deal is a good thing. Reading this thread, there are too many parasites on NY racing . But politics has been known to support parasites.

Another potential disgrace
 

http://www.drf.com/news/article/94367.html

Politicians in general suck but NY's seem really pathetic

The leading state in the nation.....

will this never end? doesn't OTB realize that they are essentially slitting their own throat by refusing to work with the tracks that basically justify their existence??