With an estimated US$90 million being channeled into Illinois horseracing over the next three years, it would seem that as many as 50,000 jobs in the industry could be saved. Yesterday the Illinois House and Senate approved a measure to reallocate 3% of the profits from the state’s four top casinos to keep horseracing viable. The bill was passed by a large majority in both House and Senate and Governor Rod Blagojevich is expected to sign the measure into law in due course.

In Maine a recount of votes has been requested by the owner of the Scarborough Downs harness track. The necessary fee of $3,100 and signatures of 100 voters to enable the recount has been submitted at the Town Hall. The ballot to bring a racino to the racetrack, similar to Hollywood Slots operated in Bangor, was defeated by 5,804 votes to 5,565. If slot machines were allowed at Scarborough Downs, the town would make an estimated $8 million in extra revenue.

The weak economy is blamed for a fall in on- and off-track betting in New York. The state and counties are looking at lower returns from horseracing in the future as taxes from pari-mutuels and off-track betting decline. However, the racetrack video lottery terminals are reporting higher turnover, which boosts the New York education budget. The growth in VLT business is believed to be at the expense of Atlantic City and Connecticut casinos. (E-11.21.08)

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