Amy Cook, executive director of the Texas Racing Commission, issued a letter to “All Occupational and Business Licensees” on Monday, June 13, stating that the import and export of pari-mutuel simulcast signals will not be conducted at Texas racetracks if the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority asserts control over regulatory supervision on July 1, 2022, as scheduled.
“We are denying HISA jurisdiction by disapproving signal export for all 'covered horse races,'” Cook told horseracing.net. “Our goal is the prevention of regulatory chaos, and the cost will be the loss of revenue in that export signal … but you cannot put a price on certainty.”
Elimination of in-state wagering on imported signals and out-of-state wagering on Texas tracks will deliver a severe economic blow to the business. This is especially true in Texas, where advance deposit wagering is illegal and all legal bets must be made at a racetrack in-state. Upwards of 90% of handle comes via simulcasting, industry studies have shown.
Cook's letter explains that the commission will allow pari-mutuel wagering on in-state races only: “Since the Texas Racing Commission regulates all aspects of Texas horse racing, including, in particular, pari-mutuel and simulcast wagering in Texas, the application of federal law pursuant to HISA in any aspect of horse racing regulation for a particular race or meet will necessarily preclude the Texas Racing Commission from full compliance with the Texas Racing Act and will, therefore, necessitate that no such affected race shall be allowed to conduct on-site pari-mutuel wagering or provide simulcast export signal. Any such request will, of necessity, be denied by the Texas Racing Commission.”
HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus met with Cook last week after an exchange of letters, but it appears little was accomplished.
(Read more about the challenges from the TRC against HISA here.)
“We told Lisa that there should be a delay in implementation for 18-24 months because it was so unclear what they will do on July 1st,” Cook told horseracing.net. “It is the best decision for my state, and even though I appreciated her coming to visit, Texans deserve clarity from their regulatory agency.”
Read more at horseracing.net.
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