Bill Introduced Against Online Horse Betting

The concerns about horseracing’s dope control resulted in a draft by two US congressmen.

Things have been shaken up in the world of horseracing in America. Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) aimed for the heart by filing a bill that would ban online sportsbooks in the US to take bets on horseracing. The Interstate Horseracing Act allowing off-track wagering was set in motion at 1978 and has been active since.

A change would not only upset many major businesses in the US but would also cut the annual income by a staggering 90%. Within all 38 states that allow online gambling an astonishing $11 billion is wagered in a year.

Animal protection is said to be the reason

According to Udall and Pitts the main issue is the uncontrolled use of performance-enhancing drugs. In the last seven years the number of horses that have died on American racetrack is over 7k. New Mexico appeals to be the most shocking out of all the states. In 2012 nine fatalities were reported by gambling news in just 13 days at the same track.

Alex Waldrop CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association said that the accusations are false and out of line. He believes that horseracing is one of the most regulated sports in the country. Even if it is not, the federal backers of the sport will not let the legislation get in the way of its success.