NYRA's Internet betting delayed

The New York Racing Association delayed the launch of its Internet wagering platform on Wednesday after receiving a notice from the attorney general of Connecticut that any plan by the association to take wagers from Connecticut residents would be a violation of Connecticut law.

John Ryan, NYRA's chief administrative officer, said that NYRA received the letter on Tuesday night. As a result, NYRA took down an application that would allow customers to register for Internet wagering on Wednesday morning and did not allow any applications to be processed.

"We need more time to look at the law and have conversations with the attorney general," Ryan said. "We're going to follow the law regardless, and if the attorney general says they can't be in the pools, we won't accept them."

The letter was also sent to the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, which issued a cease-and-desist order to NYRA on Wednesday to prevent the association from taking bets from Connecticut residents, according to Dan Toomey, a board spokesman.

A release from the Connecticut attorney general pointed out that "Internet wagering in Connecticut is illegal in any fashion," while noting that state residents can place legal bets in the state at racetracks, offtrack betting locations, and through telephone betting operations.

Ryan said NYRA programmers were hoping to get an amended application on the site by Thursday. Belmont's spring/summer meet opened Wednesday.