Gambling, betting on horse races and holding charitable gaming events seems like all fun and games, but there is a core group of individuals who ensure it remains that way. The New York State Racing and Wagering Board, formed by Gov. Rockefeller in 1973, plays an important role behind the scenes of one of America, and the region’s, favorite pasttimes.
We regulate paramutual gaming (which includes the thoroughbred and harness tracks at Saratoga Race Course), travel gaming and charitable gaming around the state. We ensure that when people have a license to conduct any form of gambling in New York, the conduct of that gambling is done in the manner that would guarantee the consumer isn’t fooled, either in a way that races or games are fixed or that the money trail is one we can verify, said John Sabini, chairman of the board and the state’s top regulator.
Sabini, appointed by Gov. David Paterson in 2008, heads up the three member board. He said the board has a staff of auditors, investigators, horseracing experts and lawyers who make sure that things are all on `the up and up.`
`For example, we have personnel at Saratoga Race Course and Saratoga Raceway [and other casinos in the region] as well as people who determine whether or not games are operated properly, and people at charitable places like VFW halls and moose lodges, churches and synagogues,` said Sabini, who was previously the senior minority member in the state Senate and part of the senate committee on racing, wagering and gaming.
When the board was formed into state law nearly 40 decades ago, it was done so to fulfill a role the government felt explicitly crucial to the state’s growing gaming climate, which itself was beginning to play a role in the economy. That role is perhaps even more important today, and Sabini said the importance of his job and the entire board is evident by NYRA’s financial woes earlier this year.
`It’s an important job particularly in light of the fact that Saratoga, Albany and the Capital District’s economy is so dependent on the success of the Saratoga meet. Much of my job is to be sort of the traffic cop or the juggler of various factions in the racing industry, so earlier this year, when New York City OTB anounced it wouldn’t pay monies owed to NYRA, coupled with other issues, there was a chance or some indication that NYRA wouldn’t hold the meet. That would have been devastating for the economy of the Capital District,` said Sabini. `I intervened and made sure we made NYRA as whole as possibe so the Saratoga meet would go on.`
The board does its best to spot people trying to get around the regulations, but as Sabini pointed out, anytime there are rules, people will try to find a way around them.
`There was a case this year where a capital area horse breeder was found have been abusing his horses. We took his license to operate at tracks away and he was subsequently convicted of animal cruelty,` said Sabini. `Regulations are like anything else. If people feel they can get aruond them, they will. The idea is to remove the temptation. Certainly we have had histories of drug positives coming in at various tracks, but it’s hard to explain how and why people try to get around rules, but they do.`
To cut back on dishonesty, the board conducts drug testing at horse tracks to make sure they’re not tampered with. It monitors transactions of money to make sure pools are accurate, employs a sort of umpire for races and has a slew of other regulations in place.
`Gov. Rockefeller created this to take a broader view and make sure there was enough regulatory framework to ensure public confidence,` said Sabini.
Sabini has his hand in the racing pools behind the scenes, but he’s also a familiar face in front of the curtain too.
`He’s at the track, out in the field, all the time. He’s very hands on in being out there, meeting with different individuals working there, hearing what they’re saying and looking at situations as they arise. He’s been at the Saratoga meet quite a bit this year,` said Joe Mahoney, communications director.
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