1979 stories by Steve Bittenbender
New Jersey Moves Closer to Fixed-Odds Racing, Monmouth Hopes to Offer It by July
More than a year after New Jersey racing officials announced their intent to usher fixed-odds horse racing into the United States on a wider scale, it may soon become a reality. On Thursday, the state Assembly voted 74-0-1 to pass a bill...
Chances for California Sports Betting Measure Good as Verification Deadline Nears
With a Wednesday deadline looming for a final verified count, proponents to get a sports betting initiative before California voters appear to have enough signatures - if election officials can finish the count in time. According to information from the California Secretary...
Kentucky Police, FBI Bust Illegal Gaming Sites, Four Charged as $10K Seized
Law enforcement officers in a Lexington, Ky., suburb this week worked with federal agents to bust two illegal gaming facilities. Authorities said that led to the arrest of four people, as well as the seizure of about $10,000 and 22 machines. On...
New York to Give Away Lottery Scratch-Offs with $5M Grand Prize to Spur COVID Shots
Following the lead of states like Ohio and Kentucky, New York announced on Thursday that individuals who want to get a COVID-19 vaccine can also get a chance to win a little coin. Starting on Monday, adults can go to one...
Lawmakers File Bill in Congress to Phase Out US Greyhound Racing Industry
A bipartisan group of US House members have filed legislation that would ban greyhound racing and would amend the Wire Act to eliminate betting markets for the sport. US Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) sponsors the bill, called The Greyhound Protection Act. He...
Hard Rock, Indiana Officials Celebrate Opening of $300M Land-Based Casino in Gary
Indiana’s newest casino has opened to the public. On Friday, patrons flocked to Gary to see what the $300 million Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has to offer. The casino – the first land-based venue in Indiana’s northwestern gaming corridor – is...
Record Betting Reported for Preakness, Despite Controversy Over Medina Spirit
Maybe controversy is a good thing for horse racing - at least from the betting perspective. According to race chart information, Saturday’s Preakness Day 14-race card generated more than $113.4 million in bets, with the Preakness Stakes attracting nearly $68.7 million in...
California Lottery $26M Prize Likely Unclaimed After Woman Says She Washed Ticket
The winning ticket for a $26 million lottery drawing in California appears to have gone down the drain. Literally. When midnight struck Thursday night on the Pacific Coast, the deadline passed for someone to claim the SuperLotto Plus prize from the California...
Ohio Senators Amend Sports Betting in Gaming Bill, e-Bingo Worries Casinos
The Ohio state Senate committee that drafted the current sports betting bill met Wednesday for the first time since its initial version was unveiled last week. Already, there are some changes that have been made. The Senate Select Committee on Gaming’s first...
Medina Spirit Early Preakness Favorite, But Bob Baffert’s Horse Must Test Clean to Run
Medina Spirit, the colt whose Kentucky Derby win less than two weeks ago hangs in the balance because of a failed drug test, was allowed to enter Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. That's thanks to an agreement reached between trainer Bob Baffert and the...
