Off Track Betting 

There are two camps of thought on off track betting. There are those that argue that it detracts from the sport of horse and/or dog racing; and then there are those that say it only serves to bring in more revenue so why fight it? Whichever camp you fall into there are some very clear ideas as to why it should or why it shouldn’t be allowed.  

Nebraska’s racetracks are in the position where they think that it will help them and are proposing that they should be allowed to bring in off track betting for their tracks. They were arguing that they are competing against tracks that have slot machines and therefore they were at a disadvantage from those tracks that had it. They said that the other tracks could offer slot machines so they could have higher purses and thus bring in better horses. Better horses lead to better races. And better races lead to more money and more people. But all of this stems from slot machines. 

As they weren’t getting anywhere with their requests for slot machines, they tried a different tactic. Now they are requesting off track betting instead. They say that they are struggling to make ends meet and if they aren’t allowed to have it they are going to have to start cutting costs – which could mean letting people go. They say that they don’t want to, but that they cannot continue on as they are. 

Of course if the state wants to give them slot machines they will take that instead – but they are aware that this might not be doable with the legislature that they have. Instead they are looking to get them to allow them some other form of help in the meantime.