Finally, a matter of bipartisan agreement: U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, is working to protect Internet wagering on thoroughbred horse races from laws designed to restrict online gambling.
Gibson announced Tuesday he introduced a bill similar to one former Congressman Scott Murphy, a Democrat, wrote last year to clarify the rules on Internet gambling.
"While the rules were designed to crack down on illegal Internet gambling, they have unintentionally created confusion regarding the validity of credit card transactions for legitimate wagers on horse racing that are sanctioned by the federal Interstate Horseracing Act," Gibson wrote in a statement. "As a result, several credit card companies have decided not to process any gaming transactions, even legal Internet gaming transactions on horse racing."
The racing industry has invested millions in online pari-mutuel wagering, and doesn't want to see it wasted. While online betting isn't new, it's growing. When the bankrupt New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. closed last year, the New York Racing Association began taking online registrations for its NYRA Rewards program and began streaming races live online.
"In upstate New York, we are fortunate to have Saratoga Race Course, the crown jewel of horse racing in New York state and the economic engine for our area," Gibson said. "To sustain this much-needed tourism revenue and to protect thousands of jobs, we must ensure that horse wagering remains legal, as intended by federal law."
The legislation will go before the House Judiciary Committee.
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