1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender
English Soccer Legend Accused of Placing 140 Bets on Matches as Club Owner
England’s soccer community was turned upside down Tuesday as the country’s Football Association leveled gambling charges against one of its greatest players. The governing body alleged Paul Scholes placed 140 bets on games from August 2015 to this January. That period is...
Congressmen Seek National Drug, Safety Standards for Horse Racing, While Some Worry Bettors May Foot Bill
Two Congressmen have introduced legislation that would bring uniformity to horse racing regulations across the United States. However, at least one group worries bettors may end up bearing the brunt for the sport’s reforms. The Horseracing Integrity Act is the brainchild of...
Golden State Heavy First Round Favorites over Clippers as NBA Playoffs Start Saturday
There is never really such a thing as a sure bet, but oddsmakers think the Golden State Warriors advancing out of the first round of the National Basketball Association playoffs is close to it. The Warriors, the two-time defending world champions and...
Road to Kentucky Derby to Make Final Stops at Oaklawn, Keeneland on Saturday
The road to the Kentucky Derby comes to an end on Saturday as the final two preps for the most coveted prize in horse racing take place at Oaklawn and Keeneland. The Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs...
Pimlico Owner Rips Baltimore Leaders for Nixing Laurel, Preakness Plans
UPDATE: The Stronach Group announced Saturday it will close nearly 7,000 seats for Pimlico's upcoming meet. In a statement, the company said it hired an independent engineering firm to study the structure. That study indicated the northern grandstand, the oldest part of...
Ohio House Bill Calls for State Lottery to Run Sports Betting at Casinos, Racinos
Two Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bill that would legalize sports betting and allow the state’s lottery to manage it. On Tuesday, state Reps. Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) and Brigid Kelly (D-Cincinnati) unveiled their proposal that calls for the creation of a Sports...
PointsBet U.S. Announces New Sports Betting Policy to Attract Sharps, Seeks to Expand
PointsBet U.S. announced on Wednesday it would enforce a new policy aimed at attracting professional and other high dollar bettors to make their sports betting wagers in an American market. Effective immediately, the New Jersey online sportsbook said it will accept bets...
Churchill Downs, Keeneland Break Ground on $150M Horse Racing Venue at Kentucky-Tennessee Border
The two giants of Kentucky’s horse racing scene came together in the western portion of the state on Tuesday to break ground on a $150 million complex. Officials from Churchill Downs Inc. and Keeneland celebrated the start of work on Oak Grove...
Bill Allowing Online Sports Betting Passes Tennessee House Committee
A bill that would legalize sports betting online in Tennessee advanced out of a legislative committee on Tuesday. By a 12-5 vote, with one member abstaining, the General Assembly’s House State Committee approved House Bill 1. The proposal would allow Tennessee to...
California Board Pushes Back Discussion of Santa Anita Racing Dates Amid 23 Horse Death Scandal
The California Horse Racing Board announced late Monday it had canceled a special called meeting for this week to discuss the possibility of moving race dates away from Santa Anita Park. Instead, the board opted to move the discussion to its regularly...
