Governor threatens to shut down horse racing (Montgomery, Penn: 2015, schools)

[I_Like_Spam]

Unless he gets his way pretty quickly on the state budget impasse, Wolf says he'll shut down the tracks.

Apparently, horse racing taxes are a loser in 2015. The parimutuel handles have really plummeted over the past several years- due presumably to other options available now for gamblers to lose their money, and it costs more to regulate, give drug tests to the horses, issue licenses, etc., than the state is bringing in as far as the taxes on the industry.


I can't see keeping this loser tax, regardless of what happens with the budget.

State needs to either raise the tax to cover the expenses, or just let horse racing regulate itself and get rid of the horse racing commission. Pennsylvania removed professional wrestling from state regulation several years ago, eliminated the requirements for competitors, refs and promoters to get licenses from the State Athletic Commission, and it seems to have worked out fine.

[thecoalman]

Appears that is small potatoes compared to what they are skimming off the Casino profits to support it.

During the last six years, more than $1.5 billion has gone to horse owners, race-horse breeders and others in the horse racing industry, thanks to a little-known state subsidy that funnels 12 percent of casino slot revenues to the Race Horse Development Fund (RHDF). The lion’s share of that bounty goes to “enhancing” the prize money at the race tracks. The RHDF actually received $225 million during the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
Read more at Pa. lawmaker proposes using horse racing funds for schools

The Casino licenses are dependent on the horse racing, not sure what kind of agreement was made there with horse tracks or if they are seperate but that could be an issue. At the very least they will need to rectify the legislation.

[pman]

This may be the easiest place to find money for the deficit

[Ray_Velcoro]

The casinos have not helped as anticipated. For years West Virginia was the only show in town with casinos and live racing. Until 2007 it was the only place to gamble nearby. Now pa, Ohio and Maryland legalized casinos.

Live racing has gone downhill in all of these states. West Virginia is probably going to stop funding its dog racing and they have forced the horse tracks to scale back as well.

It's not worth funding as it doesn't make money from eroding interest.

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by Ray_Velcoro

The casinos have not helped as anticipated. For years West Virginia was the only show in town with casinos and live racing. Until 2007 it was the only place to gamble nearby. Now pa, Ohio and Maryland legalized casinos.

Live racing has gone downhill in all of these states. West Virginia is probably going to stop funding its dog racing and they have forced the horse tracks to scale back as well.

It's not worth funding as it doesn't make money from eroding interest.

Should racing be outlawed, or should the state just remove the regulators and let the tracks police their own affairs? It costs a lot more to send the inspectors out to the Meadows and conduct all of their drug tests, licenses, etc. that they ever could get in taxation because of less interest in the sport?


Legal horse racing shouldn't be a financial burden for the state.

[pman]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Should racing be outlawed, or should the state just remove the regulators and let the tracks police their own affairs? It costs a lot more to send the inspectors out to the Meadows and conduct all of their drug tests, licenses, etc. that they ever could get in taxation because of less interest in the sport?


Legal horse racing shouldn't be a financial burden for the state.

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