GSR Reaches Wagering Agreement With Xpressbet, Elite Turf Club

Golden State Racing (GSR) has reached an agreement with The Stronach Group's (TSG) Xpressbet, allowing punters to be able to wager on Pleasanton through that particular ADW platform when racing resumes this Friday.

GSR launched its inaugural 26-day Thoroughbred meet at Pleasanton Saturday, Oct. 19. But punters hoping to wager on its product through Xpressbet and the New York Racing Association's NYRA Bets were shut out–a scenario stemming from a disagreement over the fees that form a key part of a track's purses and revenues.

Similarly, Elite Turf Club players were also unable to play on the Pleasanton product. Owned by TSG and NYRA, Elite Turf Club is one of the primary Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) platforms in the U.S.

According to Larry Swartzlander, executive director of GSR and the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF), Elite Turf Club teams will also now be able to wager on Pleasanton.

Swartzlander said that the rates for Xpressbet will remain the same as on the fairs over the summer with no reductions. “They were exactly what we had asked for,” said Swartzlander.

An Apr. 4 letter from the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) to Swartzlander shows the fairs this summer charged Xpressbet, NYRA and other platforms a hub fee of 5% for ADW wagers accepted by California residents, and a host fee of no less than 7.5% of gross out-of-state handle wagered by out-of-state account holders.

“I'll give thanks to [Thoroughbred Owners of California executive director], Bill Nader and the TOC, they stepped forward, totally supported our position,” said Swartzlander.

In a message to key stakeholders Tuesday, Swartzlander wrote that TSG CEO Aidan Butler “was in total support of GSR and will continue to support racing in Northern California.”

GSR has hired Churchill Downs International (CDI) to handle their rate negotiations.

Swartzlander said Tuesday that CDI would continue negotiations with NYRA on Wednesday. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) is privy to those negotiations, Swartzlander added.