sundays and let those who wish to bet and work do so while those who wish to go to Church with Andrew Cuomo do so. With tracks running all across the US it is a sign of communism that bettors can't bet and workers can't work?
See also NY Const. Art. 1, Sec. 3.
Open On 1st Palm Sunday, Otb Rakes In $2m - New York Daily News
articles.nydailynews.com/.../18220335_1_racing-and-wagering-boar...Cached
Open On 1st Palm Sunday, Otb Rakes In $2m. BY JERRY BOSSERT DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER. Monday, April 14, 2003. New York City Off-Track Betting ...Nassau OTB working to settle $4.5M case
Photo credit: Newsday/Karen Wiles Stabile | Players watch the first race at Aqueduct at Nassau OTB Farmingdale branch. (March 26, 2011)
ALBANY - Nassau Off-Track Betting Corp., along with other regional OTBs, is facing a multimillion-dollar judgment and a fast-approaching deadline in a long-running legal fight. Several lawsuits have been filed by harness racing tracks against the OTBs for annual payments that the tracks say they are owed since 2004. The payments, mandated by state law, reflect a share of the proceeds OTBs get by simulcasting races from outside the state.
All told, the regional OTBs are on the hook for at least $10 million. Nassau is liable for $4.5 million -- the largest tab for any of the regional OTBs in the state.
The state Racing and Wagering Board has set an Oct. 31 deadline for the OTBs to pay the money it says they owe solely for 2010; for Nassau that amounts to $647,000.
Nassau OTB chief Joseph Cairo says they have begun talks with the tracks on the overall pot of money and hope to reach an agreement soon.
"We're trying to work out a settlement," Cairo said. "So far, it's been progressing."
Suffolk OTB was listed as owing about $2.4 million for payments through 2009 and the early part of 2010, before it filed for bankruptcy, said Suffolk OTB spokeswoman Deborah Pfeiffer. But she said it isn't liable for any money until the bankruptcy is complete and the agency's reorganization plan calls for paying back the money over time.
The OTBs have been wrangling for years over what's known as "maintenance of effort payments" that are supposed to be made annually to harness racing tracks around New York. State law requires the payments and outlines where OTBs are expected to send payments. Nassau OTB and Suffolk OTB shares are supposed to go to Yonkers Raceway and Monticello Raceway.
All years combined, Nassau is liable for about $4.5 million -- about $4 million of that earmarked for Yonkers Raceway -- according to a schedule of payments provided by the Racing Board. Capital OTB has the second highest tab, at $2.7 million.
In court, the OTBs have argued they don't have to pay the tracks a share at certain times, such as "dark days" when harness tracks weren't racing. They also dispute payments for a roughly 16-month period that Yonkers was closed. They filed several claims challenging the law. The Racing Board has sided with the harness tracks.
So far, all the claims have been rejected by the courts.
Even though the OTBs have appeals ongoing, Cairo said settlement talks are under way.
Racing Board officials declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. Yonkers Raceway officials didn't return calls.
"Hopefully, we're going to get a reasonable settlement with Yonkers," Cairo said. Though he didn't say how a deal might impact Nassau OTB's finances, he added that he hopes the parties can agree to "a fair number" that it "can pay it over time."
With Newsday Staff Reporter Rick Brand
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