Syracuse, NY - The Onondaga County Legislature rejected by a 13-5 vote this afternoon a new proposal to bring off-track betting to the county. Legislator Kathy Rapp, R-Salina, planned to introduce a resolution to allow the Capital District Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. to open an OTB parlor in the county, But she withdrew her proposal when she realized it...
Mike Carlucci, right, and his son, Dennis, both of Baldwinsville, pick their favorite horses while at the off-track betting parlor in Phoenix, in Oswego County, in a photo taken March 29, 2010. Onondaga County's Legislature rejected today by a 13-5 vote a proposal to allow off-track betting in Onondaga County.
Syracuse, NY - The Onondaga County Legislature rejected by a 13-5 vote this afternoon a new proposal to bring off-track betting to the county.
Legislator Kathy Rapp, R-Salina, planned to introduce a resolution to allow the Capital District Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. to open an OTB parlor in the county, But she withdrew her proposal when she realized it did not have enough votes to pass.
Legislator Mark Stanczyk, D-Syracuse, an opponent of OTB, then introduced the resolution to force a vote on the proposal.
OTB parlors operate in all four counties surrounding Onondaga County.
Capital OTB operates in 17 counties, including Madison and Cortland. Officials of Capital OTB say Onondaga County bettors would generate at least $20 million a year in wagers, which would yield roughly $1 million in revenue to county government.
Rapp proposed using the county's proceeds from OTB to support arts organizations that the county currently funds with tax dollars. A similar idea was floated in 2004, when the county Legislature rejected OTB.
Look for a full story about the Legislature's OTB maneuvering in The Post-Standard on Wednesday.
Contact Tim Knauss at tknauss@syracuse.com or 470-3023.