U.S. RACING COMPANY HAS ONLINE GAMBLING PLANS

Posted 3/16/11 :   Another indication that the momentum for legalization is growing
 
This week saw another indicator of the growing momentum of the legalization issue in the United States, when the president of major horseracing company Churchill Downs Inc., confirmed that his company has plans to expand into online gambling once the pastime is legalised.
 
CDI president and chief executive officer Bob Evans said the Kentucky-based company is “…very much wired into the political and business side” of Internet gambling, which is limited – in legal terms – to advance deposit wagering on horse races.
 
During a conference call on the company's financial results, the state and federal legalization initiatives in recent times were introduced into the discussion, leading Evans to comment:
 
“If Internet gambling gets legalized at the state or federal level, we would intend to play in these businesses. And we expect to play competitively whenever that may happen. We’ll be there when it occurs.”
 
The publication Bloodhorse.com reported this week that CDI has invested tens of millions of dollars in developing an online wagering platform, TwinSpires.com, for betting on races. In the fourth quarter of 2010, the system, which has a hub in Oregon, attracted $167.1 million in pari-mutuel handle.
 
The online company faces threats following a legal action in California. On March 14 CDI was told by the California Horse Racing Board it has until March 18 to resolve its dispute over ADW or it will lose its California licence. That would mean that TwinSpires.com would be unable to take bets from residents of that state.
 
The company says it is working hard at a solution and hopes to meet the March 18 deadline.