A United Front for Arizona and All Horseplayers Against Arizona HB 2694

[ALostTexan]

At this point, everyone is very well aware of what has occured in the past few months in Arizona. If not, let me quickly review. The State Legislature in May passed HB 2694, which in essense makes it not only unlawful for horseplayers in the state to wager on races using ADW's, but makes it a Class 6 Felony, equilivent to indicent exposure, sexual conduct with a minor, or placing a person in iniment danger.

The implications on this are devestating to the entire world of horse racing. To the horsemen all states, this bill will be detrimental to the overall wagering handle, and regardless of how insignificant Arizona may seem now, this is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, and the impact will only grow into the future. This also sets a very bad precedent, as this move can very well be taken in any other state in the nation. Finally, this move is very bad for the horsemen and live tracks in Arizona itself, as this has already caused an unpleasant rift between horseplayers and all involved parties in Arizona, and a blame-game is occuring as we speak.

The time is now for the horseplayers of Arizona and the rest of the nation to make a stand against this form of legislation. The current battleground is Arizona, and I am asking for a unified front in this state. Tomorrow morning, I plan on requesting a meeting with the Arizona Horsemen's Horseman’s Benevolent & Protective Association’s (AZHBPA) is discuss the current situation. I believe that the best course of action right now is a diplomatic effort to overturn this bill, and I and others very well connected to the situation believe that the horsemen are the best means of achieving diplomacy.

I am asking that the horseplayers and members of Pace Advantage unite to form a single voice.

I am asking that anyone that agrees that HB 2694 is wrong to please reply to this thread with your name, location, and any comments you wish to forward to the AZHBPA. Like Betovernetcapper has done in the past with petitions, if you would like to use your real name and location but not post it, please fee free to PM me and I will write it in.

I am honestly not sure where the AZHBPA stands on this issue, and the meeting I will be requesting is only to share the information that I collect and make them aware that the online community is outraged with the events of HB 2694.

I will update this thread and any others that are important in the next few days. I appreciate any assistance that members give, and if anyone would like to talk over the phone or even in person, please feel free to PM me and I will provide contact information.

This is an important issue to all horseplayers, and we must take a united stand against this and similar legislation.

[betovernetcapper]

R Young (betovernetcapper)
http://boycotttracknet.com/

[njcurveball]

Jim C.
Galloway, NJ


<crossing hands in front of my crotch>

I got TWO words for the Arizona State Legislature.........


SUCK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND you can quote me on that one!

[highnote]

John Swetye, Darien, CT

Why do the supporters of House Bill 2694 think it is OK to treat the citizens of Arizona like children? Do the supporters of the bill really think so little of Arizona citizens?

If so, then I have a new state motto for you... "Arizona... the Nanny State."

Isn't it hypocritical for racetracks in Arizona to accept wagers from out-of-state (most of which comes from account wagering) while at the same time prohibiting Arizona citizens from having Advanced Deposit Wagering accounts? Or have AZ politicians prohibited AZ racetracks from receiving out-of-state wagers on AZ races?

I can only hope that the opponents of House Bill 2694 are many in number and send a strong message to every politician who supported this bill by removing them from their office in the next election.

There are casinos and lotteries in the majority of states in the Union, including Arizona, which take in far greater amounts of betting than the racetracks in our great country. And yet, it is deemed acceptable for an Arizona resident to bet in an Arizona casino or buy an Arizona lottery ticket (which transmits betting information over telecommunications line, by the way), but it is not acceptable for Arizona citizens to bet on a game of skill such as a horse race through an advanced deposit wagering account?

Surely, House Bill 2694 prohibits Arizona citizens from opening an Advanced Deposit Wagering account at Hedgestreet.com where Arizona residents can bet on the price of gasoline or housing prices? By the way, Hedgestreet.com is regulated by the Federal Agency CFTC. Good luck explaining House Bill 2694 to CFTC.

House Bill 2694 is absurd and everyone knows it.

[Froggy]

I can't put into words my anger, resentment and disappointment in the actions of my elected officials.

It was already illegal to bet online any race that took place inside the states boundaries, now they have made it illegal to bet on races outside the states boundaries.

All this is intended to increase the sales of admission, hot dogs and beer at the track, not to mention the small increase in profit buy eliminating the ADW's.

Since very few people can walk to the track this would increase the consumption of oil by driving and revenue of mass transit.

All this does is eliminate us senior citizens on fixed incomes and limited physical mobility and puts barriers in the way to attract new and younger computer literate horseplayers.

Saturday I signed a contract to sell my home at a loss and am going to another state this week to find a place to buy in a more friendly environment.

My name address and number and voting district is available on request.

Froggy

[shanta]

Richie P.
New Rochelle,N.Y.

Arizona Legislature: STOP imposing your morality shit on the residents in your state.

[Premier Turf Club]

Protectionism will kill this game. Every one of these laws is just another victory for the off-shore bookmakers.

Once again, the interests of the players are ignored. Damn shame.

[Ted Craven]

FWIW, sign me in. A damn shame: responsible adults don't need the state babysitting them. And if it that's not the reason, then polititians should fess up re their protectionist or other political motives.

God, Froggy, it makes me boil to hear what you said about selling and moving. (It also says something about your dedication to the sport...) I'd suggest Canada, but I'm trying to get somewhere warm for the wintertime myself.

Ted Craven

[Scav]

Originally Posted by Premier Turf Club

Protectionism will kill this game. Every one of these laws is just another victory for the off-shore bookmakers.

Once again, the interests of the players are ignored. Damn shame.

You talk about off-shore but that simply isn't true. They single handly destoryed that industry with many people hesistant to bet with any real money over there now. All that money filtered itself back to sites like yourself (who offer rebates) or back into the actual track pools. There is no trust in that industry like there was with a Pinnacle.

I was a Pinnacle customer, and only a Pinnacle customer because there was trust there, can't trust a single site now because it is impossible to get a withdrawal into this country now for anything over $2500.

[ceejay]

I, for one, will not play any AZ tracks until 2694 is repealed.

Craig P., OK

[rrbauer]

Takeout at Arizona tracks on ALL pools is 20% and HIGHER. They PASS every test: The HIGH-TAKEOUT test. The HIGH-BREAKAGE test. And, the DUMB-SHIT politicians' test. Three for three. Way to go Arizona!!

(Sorry Boomer!)

[shanta]

can we get an email address to blast these officials with our opinion of what went down?

Then we need thousands of concerned folks to speak up in the emails. I will do my part and let EVERY player i know about this effort

???

[Premier Turf Club]

Originally Posted by Scav

You talk about off-shore but that simply isn't true. They single handly destoryed that industry with many people hesistant to bet with any real money over there now. All that money filtered itself back to sites like yourself (who offer rebates) or back into the actual track pools. There is no trust in that industry like there was with a Pinnacle.

I was a Pinnacle customer, and only a Pinnacle customer because there was trust there, can't trust a single site now because it is impossible to get a withdrawal into this country now for anything over $2500.

ehorse, for one handles hundreds of millions in wagers every year. Yes, it's a helluva lot harder to get money out of the off-shores now, but many other serious bettors I know still have an account with a book to play the tracks they can't play at their favorite ADW (PTC or others). It's probably north of 75% in states like California that forbid rebating.

Outlawing account wagering (or rebating) doesn't do any more to stop the activity than prohibition did to stop the consumption of alcohol.

[betovernetcapper]

Any chance of this thread becoming a sticky?

[csmith]

Cliff Smith, Pinellas Park Florida


I, will not play any Arizona Horse or Greyhound track until 2694 is repealed.