Fairmount Park Takes Advantage Of Illinois Internet Gambling

Fairmount Park is one of the many horse racing tracks around the US that is searching far and wide for ways to increase revenue during these tough economic times. Last month, Governor Pat Quinn helped out Illinois tracks by signing into law a provision to allow Internet gambling on horse races.

In order for the tracks to offer the Internet gambling, however, two requirements had to be met. First, the track had to offer live racing. Second, the track had to receive race dates for another season. On Thursday, Fairmount Park met those requirements.

The Illinois Racing Board gave the track the rights to have fifty-two race dates next year. In order to secure those dates, the track had to commit to guarantee at least 130 work days for union members, and the tax rate would be increased.

Those would normally be deal-breakers, but the track agreed to the terms understanding that they needed the rights to advance deposit wagering. In ordinary terms, those three words stand for Internet gambling.

"I'm tickled to death that we have advanced deposit wagering," said Lanny Brooks, Executive Director of the Illinois Horseman's Benevolent and Protective Association, "The future of Fairmount Park is going to be colossal."

The new online betting law will allow gamblers to make wagers from their home computers and also hand held devices. The elimination of these gamblers having to go to the track to bet will raise revenue drastically at Fairmount.

September 26, 2009
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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