Generating Revenue to Support Public Schools – A Good Bet for New York!
For many years, horse racing fans in New York City were able to place wagers at pari-mutuel betting machines at six taverns around the five boroughs, which were operated without incident. Following the closure of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation (OTB) in 2010, however, these machines were removed, forcing fans in New York City seeking to place bets on the Kentucky Derby and other horse races to travel to the Aqueduct Raceway in Queens, or to gamble illegally, fueling organized crime revenues.
I've written and introduced a measure that would allow the machines to be returned to their six previous locations in New York City, and create the possibility of placing them in up to 40 taverns and restaurants in the five boroughs – with about half of the revenue generated to be directed toward New York State aid for public education.