NYRA gets betting site operating

The New York Racing Association launched an Internet wagering platform on Friday after 10 days of delays related to the scope of the service and technical problems.

NYRA had initially planned to launch the service on May 2, opening day of the group's Belmont meet. Although NYRA's website has allowed customers to register for the service since last Friday, the site did not begin taking wagers until Friday afternoon.

The platform will be available only to residents of New York. NYRA had planned to take wagers from residents of Connecticut as well, but the association abandoned those plans after complaints from Connecticut regulators that Internet betting would violate state laws. The change required NYRA to alter its registration process, delaying the launch, and then technical problems with the service delayed the launch even further.

Racetracks offered through the service will include all those that NYRA takes for simulcasting plus the tracks that are available through Television Games Network. NYRA has a contract with TVG for the network to provide wagering services on NYRA's signals in all states other than New York and Connecticut.