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NJ VLT proposal finds supporters21 February 2008NEW JERSEY -- As reported by the Ashbury Park Press: "A new push by horsemen for installing video lottery terminals at New Jersey racetracks has attracted backing from sympathetic state legislators as discussions over renewed purse subsidies from Atlantic City casinos are stalled. "For the past four years, the casino industry added supplements to horse racing purses — the supplements totaled more than $80 million — in exchange for the racetracks not pursuing the slot-machine-like VLTs. But the money has run out, and one track, Freehold Raceway, has cut its purses twice since the start of the year. The Freehold purses have dropped from an average of $53,000 a day to $34,600. "Gov. Corzine's administration has presided over negotiations with the casino industry. Administration officials said those talks are continuing. "...State Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, said momentum is growing among legislators to consider allowing VLTs at the racetracks. "...[Thomas] Luchento, president of the New Jersey Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association, said he and other racing officials are ready to make an 'all-out push' for VLTs 'if they don't come up with the purse supplement.'..." |