Posted: 31 Jan 2011 02:28 PM PST

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – New Jersey horse racing fans soon will have more ways than ever to bet on their favorite sport.

Gov. Chris Christie signed two bills into law Monday to expand the options for horse racing bets in the Garden State.

One sets up exchange wagering, a form of betting popular in Europe in which two or more people place directly opposing wagers on the outcome of a horse race. Exchange wagering allows a bettor to wager on a selected outcome occurring, and another bettor to wager on that same outcome not occurring.

Another bill allows tracks to provide for a single pool for each running or harness horse race. These larger pools would be capable of handling a greater variety of wagers than current pools.

Christie said the bills will help ensure "a strong, independent, self-sufficient horse racing industry in New Jersey."

"We are providing new tools to help the industry implement new strategies, generate additional revenue and capitalize on interest in horse racing around the state," the governor said. "Along with our ongoing efforts to transform racing at the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park through private management, these measures will place horse racing on a path to economic stability and sustainability without public subsidy that New Jersey taxpayers can simply no longer afford."

The bills were part of the legislative give-and-take over how much state help should go to New Jersey's casino and horse racing industries, which have long fought each other for gambling dollars and market share.

Deputy Assembly Speaker John Burzichelli called exchange wagering a way to help the struggling industry compete with other states.

"This is simply another option and another way to build interest in the races, which can only help the industry as we move forward with a more modern racing model for our state," he said.

Once the outcome of the race is determined, funds will be transferred from the exchange wagering account of the bettor who lost the wager to that of the bettor who won the wager. Transaction or other fees will be deducted by the track.

New Jersey will be the second state in the nation, along with California, to offer exchange wagering.

Christie conditionally vetoed a bill revamping the state's off-track betting operation, saying he supports the concept, but wants greater flexibility in determining the locations of new off-track betting parlors. He also said he wants to eliminate a 1 percent fee the parlors would pay to their host municipalities.

The governor began dealing with both industries at the same time last July when he endorsed the recommendations of a panel he had created to study the future of casinos and race tracks in New Jersey. The governor called for ending state subsidies to racetracks, and refused to allow them to install slot machines like those at so-called "racinos" in neighboring states.

But when the industry protested, legislators representing horse breeding and racing areas soon added sweeteners to the deal, including the bills signed into law Monday by Christie.

The governor is expected to act as soon as Tuesday on bills passed by the legislature to set up a state-supervised tourism district in Atlantic City, and to lessen some of the regulation to which the city's 11 casinos are subject.

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Horse wagering legal at sports lounge? You bet!

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 03:32 PM PST

By Ed Zieralski

Monday, January 31, 2011 at 2:55 p.m.

Ed Zieralski

Mike Merrigan and his wife Lisa own the OC Tavern sports bar in San Clemente.

SAN CLEMENTE — Mike Merrigan's dream was to own a sports bar, but he never imagined he'd own one that included gambling on horse racing.

But that's what the OC Tavern in San Clemente is, a big-league sports bar that offers wagering on horse racing from around the country and even Australia. Call it a sports bar on steroids.

It's the first time in California's rich gaming history that satellite wagering on horse racing is being offered at a sports bar. It's being allowed thanks to legislation passed in 2007 that allows owners of sports bars and card rooms to add off-track wagering to their list of sporting entertainment.

At present there is one at the Commerce Casino Card Club south of Los Angeles. The state plans to allow 45 in all, 15 in the southern section, 15 in the central part of the state and 15 more in the northern part. None may be within 20 miles of an existing racetrack or off-track betting facility. OC Tavern is about 38 miles from the Del Mar Racetrack and 44 miles from Los Alamitos. At present there are no applications for a license in San Diego County, but racing officials expect the area to have one in the future.

"I remember getting the e-mail from my brother-in-law, Greg Vela, in April of 2008, telling me about this opportunity to add horse racing, and right away I knew it was something I wanted for this bar," said Merrigan, an SDSU alumnus and resident of Carlsbad.

"The way I saw it, the first one in wins," Merrigan added. "It's a great form of entertainment, and we have a great radius of cities to draw from along the freeway (just off I-5 on South El Camino Real). It's just making it more convenient. It's like coffee was popular and Starbucks came in and made it more convenient and made it even more popular. They're looking at this to make it more convenient for the racing enthusiasts to come in for a couple of races, check it out, enjoy a great menu of food or a drink or so and check out the whole sports atmosphere."

Locals jumped in right away. Merrigan was aware of an industry study that showed bettors wagering online in his general area wagered over $27 million last year.

"I used to drive to Del Mar or Los Alamitos, but this made it a lot easier for me," said Scott Cookus of Dana Point. "Plus it's kind of a social stop for me now. I enjoy coming in here."

Merrigan opened the sports bar on March 8, 2007, and has put in more than $2 million in renovations. It took more than a year to get all the approvals necessary from the California Horse Racing Board and the city of San Clemente to include horse racing wagering in his bar.

Merrigan and his wife, Lisa, also an SDSU alumnus, put a lot of thought and strategy into the design. They started with a giant main bar with over 30 flat-screen TVs (including some on the patio with a view of the Pacific Ocean), a dance hall for concerts with live bands and DJs. There's a kids' game room with two pool tables, modern and old-school video games like Ms. PacMan and a Shrek pinball machine, plus a large dining area for families or Little League and soccer teams to meet after games.

Merrigan converted the dance hall into a room that includes its own bar, 26 flat-screen TVs, tables and a main table for players and teller-manned windows and automated betting machines.

"Our motto is 'something for everyone,' " Merrigan said. "We have four different atmospheres going on in our bar. Our whole thing is to offer some kind of entertainment and a great menu of food. It used to be music. But now it's sports and horse racing. During the football season, March Madness or NBA playoffs, the place is jampacked because that's an entertainment people want to see."

He's also going to offer special appearances from key people in the horse racing industry. His first guest is North County resident Jay Privman, writer for Daily Racing Form, host of a radio show and reporter on ESPN's racing broadcasts. Privman will be at OC Tavern at noon Friday to handicap the Santa Anita card and preview major stakes races. There will be giveaways such as passes to Santa Anita, T-shirts and hats.

Merrigan said he wants to work with all of the Southern California racetracks to get more fans to their races. Craig Fravel, president and general manager of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, said he has been impressed with Merrigan's energy and enthusiasm. There will be cross-promotion between the Del Mar Racetrack and OC Tavern.

"We look at how Del Mar attracted the young and hip, and that's what I'm trying to do here," he said. "We have background music between races. Bettors aren't coming into a stagnant room with no energy. They don't have to pay for parking or to get in. And we've put together a phenomenal team here to serve them."

In addition to daytime racing, the bar has races from Australia on Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Gov. Christie approves bills expanding horse betting options

Posted: 31 Jan 2011 12:17 PM PST

Published: Monday, January 31, 2011, 5:31 PM Updated: Monday, January 31, 2011, 5:34 PM

ATLANTIC CITY — New Jersey horse racing fans soon will have more ways than ever to bet on their favorite sport.

Gov. Chris Christie signed two bills into law today to expand the options for horse racing bets in the Garden State.

Another bill allows tracks to provide for a single pool for each running or harness horse race. These larger pools would be capable of handling a greater variety of wagers than current pools.

Christie said the bills will help ensure "a strong, independent, self-sufficient horse racing industry in New Jersey."

Deputy Assembly Speaker John Burzichelli called exchange wagering a way to help the struggling industry compete with other states.

"This is simply another option and another way to build interest in the races, which can only help the industry as we move forward with a more modern racing model for our state," he said.

New Jersey will be the second state in the nation, along with California, to offer exchange wagering.

But when the industry protested, legislators representing horse breeding and racing areas soon added sweeteners to the deal, including the bills signed into law today by Christie.

Previous coverage:

• Legislature approves state support of horse racing industry, Atlantic City tourism district

• Meadowlands won't hold racing in April as deal to keep track running pends

• N.J. Racing Commission to set preliminary 2011 dates for tracks

• Horse racing to continue at Meadowlands with N.J. support while lease is negotiated

• Gov. Chris Christie to address standardbred horse racing at Meadowlands

• N.J. lawmakers approve bill to help struggling casinos, but hold bill on shortening horse racing season

• Complete coverage of Gov. Chris Christie gaming industries overhaul