Contract dispute threatens betting on horse races in Nevada

The ability to place a $2 exacta at Hollywood Park, or a $10 bet on a long shot in the fifth race at Gulfstream Park at a Nevada sports book could come to an end Tuesday if sports book operators and a systems operator can't reach a deal on a new contract.

Las Vegas Dissemination Co., which provides pari-mutuel wagering and horse racing simulcasts to sports books statewide, is negotiating with the Nevada Off-Track Pari-Mutual Wagering Committee on a new contract.

"The committee's attempt to negotiate a new agreement with the only licensed systems operator in Nevada has not been successful and the existing ... agreement is set to expire at the end of this month," Patty Jones, executive director of the Nevada Pari-Mutual Association, wrote in an email Friday to sports book operators.

Jones said without an "extension of that agreement to allow further negotiations, the ability of licensed Nevada off-track pari-mutuel race books to offer pari-mutuel wagering will terminate on the last day of July."

Jones was unavailable for comment.

The committee, which is comprised of 11 licensed pari-mutuel race books, is given the authority by the Nevada Gaming Commission to negotiate a contract on behalf of all sports books in the state.

Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.