SENATE GIVES FINAL LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL TO NYRA CALL CENTER BILL Bill Requires NYRA Call Centers to Be Located in New York State

    The New York State Senate gave final legislative approval to a measure that keeps jobs in New York by requiring racing and wagering call centers to be located in-state. The bill (S.4876), sponsored by Senator Andrew Lanza (R-I, Staten Island), arises following a recent decision by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to locate it’s pari-mutel wagering call centers in Oregon.

    “Our state has invested a tremendous amount of money in NYRA over the years and it is ridiculous that the new jobs created by the call center contract will be going out-of-state instead of benefitting New Yorkers,” Senator Lanza said. “This bill prevents such a decision from occurring in the future, so that the jobs these call centers generate will be kept in-state.”

    Entities which are licensed by the state to conduct pari-mutuel wagering through telephone betting currently handle these calls at call centers located in New York.

    “The State has made a significant investment in NYRA over the years and the decision to move jobs across the country was very troubling.  The NYRA call center jobs should not be outsourced to another state, they should be in New York. Any future expansion or growth in telephone wagering in New York should benefit the hardworking citizens of this state.”

    The bill, which would take effect immediately, will be sent to the Governor for his consideration.