NYRA Pushes Betting Odds to Boost Racing Sector
Elle
Nov 28th 2025
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To support a racing industry facing rising costs and competition, New York racing is urging lawmakers to let horse racing join major sports on online sports betting, improving access to betting odds. During a recent hearing in the Assembly, New York racing representatives explained the reasons for that proposal and they said that in this case, betting odds on races should be at the same level as betting on football, basketball, or hockey through mobile apps. They claimed that it would be possible to attract a bigger number of bettors who seldom use traditional racing products if such a move were to happen.
New York racing representatives told lawmakers that adding betting odds options to sportsbooks would give racing a far stronger presence in a market dominated by mainstream sports. They said this shift could draw bettors who already use their phones for football or hockey wagers but have never tried wagering on races. According to NYRA, this adjustment could also bring in nearly $30 million in new tax revenue for the state. That projection, they said, reflects a meaningful increase in support for breeders, owners, trainers, and others who have seen operational costs rise steadily.
That concept was being talked about in the legislature last year as well. A noise was made by a bill from the state senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. aimed at setting up a structure that sportsbooks could use to give betting odds on horse races. Things didn’t move much after the bill was filed, but the proposal is still available. Under the bill, any sportsbook planning to offer these wagers would need to negotiate with a racing organization such as New York racing, and a share of the revenue would go toward New York’s thoroughbred and harness racing sectors.
New York racing officials highlighted the scale of current mobile sportsbook activity in New York, noting that operators handle well over half a billion dollars each week in betting odds wagers for other sports. By contrast, all thoroughbred betting nationwide totaled less than $900 million for the entire month of October. They said this shows how much potential is being left untouched by excluding racing from the same platforms where the state’s biggest betting activity occurs.
Although New York racing collaborates with national operators like Caesars, existing laws prevent these apps from offering wagers on races through traditional sportsbook interfaces. Instead, racing must rely on separate platforms, which limits exposure. New York racing representatives said this structural divide makes it harder for the industry to keep pace with modern betting trends.
While the hearing was going on, the financial aspect of the racing industry that has been increasingly challenging was presented to the lawmakers as well. Andrew Offerman, the chief of racing operations at New York Racing, made it clear that the money New York has been putting up for races has practically not changed for almost ten years. To give a better picture, he mentioned Kentucky where purse levels have been going up due to the influx of money from the historic betting machines for horse racing. Offerman said Kentucky’s change has reshaped its racing landscape and intensified competition for horses, trainers, and fans.
He added that New York tracks now face an environment where neighboring states and other gambling options have gained strength. Without adjustments, he warned, New York risks losing further ground to states where racing has more financial support.
Assemblymember Carrie Woerner and several colleagues acknowledged how much the industry contributes to the state. A report cited during the hearing showed that horse racing provides billions to New York’s economy and supports tens of thousands of jobs. Woerner said the sector is fighting rising costs while also dealing with competition from casinos, online sports betting, online entertainment, and other gambling formats.
Although a few states have already allowed betting odds horse wagering, the distribution across the country has been gradual. Still, New York racing officials expressed their belief that the integration of racing with the mobile sportsbook platform would be a way to draw in fresh audiences. One staff member told the committee that for racing to remain visible in a rapidly shifting gambling market, it must adapt to trends that already influence how most people place bets.
They added that placing races beside major sports on mobile apps would modernize the presentation of horse wagering and give the industry a clearer path to reaching younger bettors. This approach, New York racing said, would not replace traditional racing formats but instead operate as a companion option designed to put the sport back in front of customers who rarely engage with current racing platforms.
During the hearing, the legislators gave somewhat conflicting indications about the speed with which the bill could be moved forward, but it was evident from the talk that the problems of the sector are escalating. As a result of the purses not increasing, increasing costs of operations, competition from other types of gambling, and a small share of mainstream betting apps, New York racing is of the view that the introduction of betting odds wagering could be a significant factor in reviving the sport. Whether lawmakers move forward on the stalled bill will determine how soon these proposals can be tested within New York’s online sports betting marketplace.
