Elite Turf Club and AmTote International, two of several national industry players named defendants in a lawsuit filed in a New York federal court, issued a statement through parent company 1ST Media Oct. 30 in response to the allegations.
The lawsuit accuses them as well as The Stronach Group, Churchill Downs, the New York Racing Association, United Tote Company, and Racing and Gaming Services of engaging in racketeering through their involvement in computer-assisted wagering companies.
The putative class action which names Ryan Dickey as lead plaintiff, claims the lawsuit "arises from a scheme to manipulate the betting pools in horse races throughout the United States."
In their joint statement, Elite Turf Club and AmTote said that the claims are "outrageous," "meritless, and the company will vigorously defend itself."
"The lawsuit fundamentally misrepresents the nature of computer-assisted wagering (CAW) and the role Elite Turf Club and AmTote International have in operating, managing, and regulating wagering activity. CAW is a long-standing industry, federal- and state-regulated component of the North American and global pari-mutuel wagering system," the statement reads. "All participation in CAW is subject to the same pool rules, tote system audits, and state regulatory approvals that govern all other forms of wagering."
The statement continues: "Claims that CAWs receive an unfair advantage are unfounded and ignore the safeguards built into the regulatory and technological framework of racing."
