Internet Implications In C.d.i. Deal With Saratoga

By Brian Cullingworth, Last updated Aug 8, 2014

By acquiring a 25 percent stake in harness racing firm, Churchill Downs could receive online gambling advantages

Speaking to Kentucky.com Thursday about a pending deal to acquire 25 percent of Saratoga Harness Racing Inc., executives from Churchill Downs said the agreement carried with it valuable online gambling advantages.
Churchill CFO Bill Mudd said the deal includes a management contract for land casinos in New York and Colorado, and is "strategically important because provides it provides CDI with an option in internet gaming in tow states, should [the pastime] be legalised."
Churchill Downs has recently ramped up its internet gaming division, spending millions on an in-house developed platform (see previous InfoPowa reports) as well as attempting to buy into an Atlantic City casino to gain access to the New Jersey online gambling market.
The company has also invested in an online poker presence, although it does not presently offer online poker, and operates a bingo-type online game that offers players real money rewards, called Luckity.
Bill Carstanjen, Churchill Downs Inc. president and chief operating officer said that the company believes the deal with Saratoga Harness has the potential for internet gambling. "It wasn't the driver but is always something we look for in the mix," he said.

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Brian Cullingworth

Infopowa news was a staple of Casinomeister’s news from 2000 until 2019. Brian Cullingworth was the main writer, contributor, and was one of the most knowledgeable persons I have ever known involved in the online casino industry.

We first met in January 2001 at the ICE in London where I observed him going booth to booth interviewing online casino, software, and licensing jurisdiction representatives. Brian was also heavily involved with our forum as “Jetset“, he was involved as an informal consultant to eCOGRA, the OPA, and was a player advocate who assisted countless aggrieved players with his connections to industry folks. He also published “Casino Cautions” via Infopowa news for quite a number of years. These can be found in our news archives.

His passing in February 2019 was a dark day for us. He will be forever missed.