Arizona, 2009 --
Arizona's industry stakeholders successfully lobbied the AZ Legislature and Governor's Office for a new state law making it a FELONY to bet on horse races through an ADW.
When contacted by (angry) players afterward, the first words out of (most of) their mouths?
"It's state law. There's nothing we can do."
This is what actually happened in AZ in 2009.
Fast forward to 2019. The old state law making it a FELONY to bet on horse races through an ADW has since been repealed.
There's a new state law on the books that does allow phone wagering - but not internet wagering. The new state law also gives track management the right to set a source market fee on both in state and out of state races.
So yes, I blame Arizona's industry stakeholders for AZ's ADW restrictions.
Texas, 2016 --
During their 2016 meet, I tried several times (both email and phone without success) to contact upper management at Sam Houston Race Park to have a conversation about the possibility of getting Texas tracks to support an ADW bill.
Each time I identified myself by name and very clearly explained the reason I was calling (or emailing.)
Management at Sam Houston Race Park refused to take my calls or answer my emails. They would not even speak with me.
Maybe I wasn't persistent enough. But after a while it became clear to me that upper management at Sam Houston Race Park was not interested in even having a conversation about ADW for Texas residents.
So yes, I blame Texas industry stakeholders for their ADW restrictions.
I could go on and type out similar events/circumstances in other states that have enacted ADW restrictions... CA, VA, PA, etc.
Imo, industry stakeholders DO bear responsibility for ADW restrictions in their states because they were very much involved in the lobbying effort behind the scenes that directly lead to ADW restrictions becoming state law in their states.
-jp
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