Illinois‘ addiction to gaming revenues resembles that of a heroin junkie in the throes of severe withdrawal. The latest proposed “fix” would create de facto racinos at all of the state’s horse tracks. State Rep. Dwight Kay (R) is pushing “historical racing,” which has already been adopted in Arkansas and Kentucky. Playing slot machine-like terminals, historical-racing players wager on previously run races, with the identity of the horses concealed.
Kay’s concern lies close to home, constituent Fairmount Park having been left out of the most recent plan for gambling expansion. “This is just one stopgap to maybe help 
Fairmount and maybe some other tracks. The bill would buy some time for Fairmount” until gambling could be expanded on a wider scale, Kay says. The Illinois Harness Horsemens Association remains fixed upon slot machines at the tracks as its endgame and, in any event, speedy legislative action appears unlikely. The IHHA’s Steve Brubaker “said if a gambling package that includes slots at the race tracks isn’t put together by this spring, the Maywood Park track on Chicago‘s west side likely will close. Kay is fearful the same fate awaits Fairmount,” reports the Southern Illinoisan.
* What horseracing needs is a young, new audience — and a combination of online wagering and social gaming just may be the sport of kings’ deliverance. In employment in 37 states, DerbyJackpots not only allows horse players to wager over the Internet but to interact with other bettors. Reports Forbes, “The ease of online use has attracted younger fans as no knowledge of arcane horse racing lingo is required. In fact, the overwhelming majority of users have never been to a track or previously gambled on the sport.”
DerbyJackpots’ maker, Giddy Apps, is financially backed by Bullpen Capital, which — having invested in FanDuel — knows a good online thing when it sees one. In this case, DerbyJackpots is going to spawn a sequel early next year.
* New Jersey‘s Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, operator of Monmouth Park racetrack, is trying to keep its sports-betting case from getting fast-tracked through the court system. Although even the state itself agrees with the major sports leagues that a 
summary judgment should suffice, the Horsemen’s Association says it “has not, and will not, waive its right to a full trial on the merits” of its quest to offer sports betting.
Track attorney Ron Riccio perceptively took note of recent deals between the major leagues, and FanDuel and DraftKings. This made them, he wrote, no longer the “supposed guardians of their reputations of the integrity of their games.” The leagues reply that, by allowing regulation and licensing of sports betting to devolve from the state to casinos and parimutuels, New Jersey had engaged in “de facto authorization” of the practice. As for the state’s preference for a summary judgment, it may indicate a belief that New Jersey is likelier to prevail in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals than in district court.
