One of the failures and blunders of the U.S. Congress - the horse racing issue of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), will again be in focus on January 22, 2007, as the horse racing industry in New York sets to receive the rewards of online gaming. New York regulatory officials, considered to be the most stringent opponents of online gaming, will do nothing as thousands of gamblers in the horse racing industry use their mobile phones and other hand-held devices to place their wagers, while other forms of gaming remain blocked and prohibited.
The state also plans to allow its residents to place wagers on horse racing events on the web and other electronic devices under a new law that was adopted by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board. Technology companies in the state will also benefit from the new law. Sona Mobile is one company that has made racetrack software that will enable people to place their bets via their mobile phones and earn them a piece of the profits. According to CEO of Sona, Shawn Kreloff, the new law and their company's new software will bring new life to the horse racing industry.
Kreloff further stated that the usual market of the horse racing industry is the older, male customers who usually go to OTB's (Off Track Betting Parlors). Sona has already agreed to a deal with the New York Racing Association, the operator and manager of the 3 biggest race tracks around the state of New York, to provide reliable software that horse race tracks can use to allow their patrons to place wagers by mobile gambling.
Customers can download the application on their mobile phones. Once the client has been downloaded, the customers can just click on the button to start the application that directly connects the phone to the cellular data network of the carrier. Once the user is connected, he can sign-up for alerts or even view horse races on online video. The racetracks may charge extra costs for the alerts and videos even if the application is relatively cost free. Customers also have to pay for the data and airtime costs under the service plan of their mobile operators.
January 18, 2007
Nancy Parker