So, how did the thoroughbred racing industry ensure their carve-out in the online gambling legislation? As the U.K. newspaper The Independent examines today, they pretty much (a) organized and got their shit together and (b)put money in the right pockets, including those of original bill architect Rep. Bob Goodlatte, who was one of the top four recipients of campaigh contributions from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. The NTRA met with Goodlatte as well as other influential Republicans and "educated" them on all things horsey, ensuring their legal carve-out in the bill.
The article also suggests that the online gaming companies (after tearing their hair out in anguish) have learned a great deal from the racing industry's lobbying efforts and are vowing to mount similar campaigns in the near future in pursuit of their own carve-out, or a new piece of legislation that would fully regulate internet gaming.
