And now, the plot thickens...for today, a NY appeals court issued a ruling invalidating the way racetrack VLT revenues are doled out. From what I've read and heard, the court said VLTs are lotteries, not slots, and since, per state law, all profits from lotteries must go toward education. None can go to horsemen.
Of course, this decision (a unanimous, 5-0 blowout, for what that's worth) will be appealed by all parties - talk about a decision no one can love! Pataki hates it because it puts a serious crimp in his plans to expand VLTs, the horse people hate it for obvious reasons, and the anti-gambling zealots hate it because it didn't say VLTs on non-tribal lands are unconstitutional.
What now? Does Frankie decide that the NYRA franchise doesn't look so sexy in the cold light of a VLT-less morn? Or does he figure it's still a great pick-up that'll help him move toward simulcast signal domination? Does anyone in NY politics even dream of making a quixotic effort at a constitutional amendment that would legalize the 2001 setup? (can't imagine anyone could be that nuts, but who knows). And most importantly, who vomited more tonight, George Pataki or the people who run NYRA?