Bets at Pa. horse tracks rose 12 percent in 2012


March 28, 2013 at 8:42a.m.

Bets at Pa. horse tracks rose 12 percent in 2012

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania gaming regulators say the amount of money wagered at the state’s horse racing tracks rose 12 percent last year to $776.9 million.

The state has six horse-racing tracks and last year’s total is the highest since the state start of slot-machine gambling in 2006.

Gaming Control Board Chairman William Ryan Jr. says the report released Wednesday shows the horse racing industry continues to benefit from revenue generated by casinos.

A portion of the total revenue generated from slot machines is earmarked for the horse-racing industry.

Last year, slot machine tax revenue generated about $272 million for the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Fund; officials say about $224 million of that was earmarked for the horse-racing industry, going toward purses, breeding operations, health and pension benefits for horsemen and other things.