Gaming summit examines NJ horse racing industry
Friday, September 10th, 2010
By: Phil Gregory
philgregorynews@gmail.com
A legislative panel examining the future of gambling in New Jersey held a hearing at the Meadowlands race track today. The focus was on the state's horse racing industry.
Governor Christie wants to promote Atlantic City's casino business and have the state's race tracks be privatized.
Tom Luchento, the president of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, says alternative forms of gambling need to be added to the Meadowlands to help the race track survive.
"If we were to have our own casino up here and partner with the casinos, we're not looking to shut them out, and based upon our studies and the reports that we've gotten, we'd only probably impact them by less than two percent."
Lawmakers say several options are being considered to help the horse racing industry become self-sustaining.
The possibilities include building more off track betting facilities, expanding intrastate Internet wagering, and offering new types of betting.