Handicapping Contest: Part II on the Road to Las Vegas

Suffolk Off-Track Betting customer Dr. Ram Karibandi’s favorite hobby just hit pay dirt! The Smithtown resident came in first place in the second leg of SROTB’s 2009 Handicapping Contest. Dr. Karibandi left the Racing Forum with a trophy under one arm and a $5,500 check in his other hand. New York, California and Kentucky tracks are his favorites to bet when he visits the Forum on Fridays and Saturdays. He can soon add Nevada to his list of preferred venues since his win entitles him to join Huntington resident and winner of the first 2009 SROTB Handicapping Contest Joe Simone when they travel to the Horseplayer World Series in Las Vegas early next year.

A 25-year wagering enthusiast, Dr. Karibandi’s favorite bet is a Pick 4 or Superfecta. Aside from a winning sixth sense, he looks to the Daily Racing Form and Thorographs for handicapping assistance. Dr. Karibandi’s goal is one that horseracing lovers can appreciate: he hopes to one day own a horse and win the Kentucky Derby! 

PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. Ram Karibandi (left) accepts the Suffolk OTB Handicapping Challenge trophy from SROTB Director of Wagering Operations and Services Paul Edelstein (right). Dr. Karibandi also received a $5,500 check for taking first place in the second round of the 2009 Handicapping Contest.

(Hauppauge, New York): Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corporation held its first ever Take Your Dog to Work Day on Friday, June 26, 2009.

Bailey, Benjamin, Boots, Daisy, Nina, Otis and Lucky accompanied their Suffolk OTB employee owners — respectively, Dennis Cannataro, Janice Feeney, SROTB Vice President Marietta Seaman, Joe Friscia, Celine Gazes, Chief of Staff David Needham and Gerette Verbanic — as they went about their normal work day. Suffolk OTB President and CEO, Jeffrey A. Casale, took time out to recognize, in particular, Lucky because of the special circumstances that brought him to his owner’s side. While presenting Verbanic with Suffolk OTB”s ‘Canine-A-Tarian Award,’ Casale said that Suffolk OTB is proud to recognize the great companions dogs make. He encouraged residents to visit their local animal shelter and consider adopting one of the needy dogs who require a loving home.

“Gerette Verbanic has taken this concern to a whole new level,” Casale said. Verbanic spoke about how she saw the story in February about Lucky being thrown from a moving vehicle by his previous owner. “When I saw the footage of that puppy hobbling around, I knew that I had to have him.” She contacted the animal rescue group in Arizona and kept in touch with them throughout Lucky’s surgery and rehabilitation. Lucky arrived in May and quickly adapted to Verbanic’s home and its resident cats.

Joining SROTB President Casale and Vice President Seaman was Huntington Town Councilman Stuart Besen. Because of the bad economy, he said that the Town has witnessed a sharp increase in dogs returned to the shelter by owners who can no longer provide their pets with the basic necessities.

Take Your Dog to Work Day is a national event sponsored by Pet Sitters International.


PHOTO #1: Pictured in the lobby of Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting holding her yorkie, Benjamin, during Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corporation’s celebration of Take Your Dog to Work Day is employee Janice Feeney.

PHOTO # 2: SROTB employee Gerette Verbanic plays with Lucky — a lab/mutt mix — in her cubicle. Verbanic adopted the puppy after viewing a news clip about how Lucky was thrown from a moving vehicle and miraculously survived the trauma.

Suffolk Regional Off-Tracking Betting Corporation (SROTB) Submits 50 Page Document to Recently Formed Task Force on the Future of Off-Track Betting in New York State;
Calls on NYS to License Out-of-State Advance Deposit Wagering Entities,
Enact Substantive Legislative Relief

(Hauppauge, New York):  Citing the need for a logical solution to the ever burgeoning crisis threatening the viability of New York State’s OTB system, Suffolk Off-Track Betting President and CEO Jeffrey A. Casale urged the Task Force on the Future of Off-Track Betting to endorse SROTB’s list of recommended solutions. In a recently submitted letter to the Task Force, Casale said he was hopeful that Suffolk OTB’s approach “…will be evaluated without consideration of the ongoing spin and sound bites that have obfuscated the real issues regarding the racing industry in New York State.”   Casale continued: “Our proposed model for the OTB system relies on sensible cooperative initiatives and efficiencies among regions, while honoring the local control that allows each OTB region to aggressively compete in its own marketplace.”

Casale’s recommendations were part of a 50 page document Suffolk OTB recently submitted in response to a series of written questions from The Task Force on the Future of Off-Track Betting. Initially called for as part of the June 2008 legislation detailing the State takeover of NYCOTB, Governor David Paterson formed the Task Force last month and appointed John Van Lindt — former head of the NYS Racing and Wagering Board (1979-1986) — as Chairman. At its first meeting on May 14^th, Van Lindt announced that the Task Force would be seeking comments and suggestions from all of the State’s racing stakeholders. In his letter to Suffolk OTB, Chairman Van Lindt asked for “…recommendations concerning the optimal utilization of the state’s regional off-track betting system with an emphasis on its ability to raise revenues for the state and local governments as well as strengthen the racing and breeding industries in New York.”

Suffolk OTB Vice-President Marietta M. Seaman said that Suffolk OTB is committed to working with the other OTB regions and those in the racing industry who support the constitutional provision that is central to the success of OTBs and the financial support of local governments. “We are answerable to, in Suffolk OTB’s case, the Suffolk County Legislature,” said Seaman. “It is our duty to conduct our business with an eye towards what is best for the taxpayers of Suffolk County.”

Neil Tiger, Suffolk OTB’s Corporate Counsel, said that pari-mutual wagering — along with lotteries for the support of education — are the only two exceptions to the ban on gambling in the state. “Under the State Constitution, the purpose of the OTB system is to provide reasonable revenue for the support of state and local government,” said Tiger. “When this mandate collides with private entity interests, we are constitutionally bound to protect our local municipality and its taxpayers.” Tiger said that any effort to direct revenue away from local government is a violation of the restrictions under Article 1, Section 9 of the New York State Constitution and the Racing and Wagering Law, Section 518.

Casale said that the 2009 Legislative Agenda for Capital, Catskill and Suffolk OTBs constitute the changes necessary to ensure a continuing and increased revenue stream to local and State governments, as well as to the racing and breeding industry. Among the proposals are elimination of hold harmless payments to privately owned tracks, allowing off-track betting corporations to host video lottery terminals, revised statutory payment requirements and the allowance of racing and wagering on Palm Sunday.

Along with the above-mentioned legislative agenda, Casale said that a Confederation of Independent OTBs, as detailed in The Suffolk Plan, would address the need to increase efficiencies among OTB regions while maintaining each OTB region’s local control over matters such as zoning, site location and union negotiations. Among the recommendations contained in the confederation’s business model solution are the following:

• Establish a unified tote system for off-track wagering throughout the state. The RFP is being drafted at this time.          

• Develop and implement a unified internet wagering platform for use throughout the state.

• Develop unified, statewide telephone wagering system in “upstate/downstate” centers.

• Develop and fund a unified statewide marketing and branding campaign to maximize bettor participation at OTBs.

• Develop and implement a program to share purchasing on those items and other services utilized by all OTB regions with a goal to reduce costs to each region.

In responding to the Task Force’s inquiries, Casale said that Suffolk OTB took a carefully considered approach that made the protection of revenue to local and State governments priority number one, with an eye towards shoring up weaknesses in the racing industry

Suffolk OTB’s 12 recommendations made to The Task Force on the Future of Off-Track Betting in New York State are summarized below:

(1)   The State must license out-of-state advance deposit wagering (ADW) entities and tax the handle from NYS residents to halt what is the single largest revenue drain on revenues to the state, localities and the racing and breeding industries. 

(2)   The State must mandate a summit meeting for the principals of its pari-mutual wagering system so that agreement can be reached as to the most effective way to meet the constitutional revenue requirements for local government, as well as the best interests of the racing and breeding industries.

(3)   Although modifications are in order, the State should retain the Off-Track Betting system as it is the single greatest provider of revenues to the State and local governments, as well as all racing entities.

(4)   Since the privately owned harness tracks and Finger Lakes thoroughbred track all realize tremendous profits from Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs), statutory payments by the OTBs to the tracks should be limited to increase purses and support of breeding funds.

(5)   Since OTBs are required to make payments as percentages of total handle rather than take-out, the statutorily minimum payment is actually a larger percentage than what the OTBs earn for their taxpayers.

(6)    If any statutory payments are continued, they should be a percentage of take-out vs. the total handle.

(7)   Any recommendation by the Task Force must adhere to the constitutional provision that horse racing must benefit the taxpayers.

(8)   On wagers placed at other tracks, only payments to increase purses should be made to NYRA, Finger Lakes and harness tracks. Transparency should exist in order to verify that all tracks have passed through to the horsemen statutorily required payments made by OTBs.

(9)   The State’s racing laws that require OTBs to subsidize the Racing Industry at the expense of revenues to local governments must be revised.

(10)           The State’s racing laws must be revised so that racetracks can generate their own profits to support their own operations, rather than relying on the OTBs. Only then will sufficient revenues be returned to local governments.

(11)           It is appropriate and beneficial to maintain the separation of OTBs and the producers of racing events. What is equally beneficial, however, would be the establishment of a new cooperative relationship that would support New York racing products and the development of evening events suitable to racing fans.

“Initiatives to support the increase of revenue to sponsoring governments are not mutually exclusive with efforts to ensure the well-being of the racing industry,” said Casale. “We call upon the The Task Force on the Future of Off-Track Betting in New York State to adopt Suffolk OTB’s recommendations. A vibrant OTB system will yield financial benefits to local government and play a key role in re-energizing the racing industry as a whole. ”

Annual Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corporation Employee
Charity Golf Outing

This year’s golf outing will benefit the following two charities—one of which is in the community and the other which is associated with the sport of horseracing.

            Building Homes for Heroes: This group helps wounded veterans with retrofitting new or old homes after returning home (www.buildinghomesforheroes.com)

            The Jockey Club Foundation: This is a charitable trust which provides--on a confidential basis—financial relief and assistance to needy members of the thoroughbred industry and their families (www.tjcfoundation.org)

WHEN:                       Tuesday, September 1, 2009

WHERE:                    Hamlet Wind Watch Golf and Country Club
                                    1725 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY           

TIME:                        12 Noon: Lunch/Registration/Driving Range                                           
                                    1:30 PM: Golf/Shotgun
                                   (Halfway House: hot dogs/Hamburgers/Sandwiches/Beverage Cart on
Course)
                                   6: 30 PM: Dinner/Beer and Wine

COST:                        Golf (all inclusive): $150.00
                                   Lunch: $35.00
                                    Dinner: $65.00

RSVP BY:                  August 18, 2009

CHECKS                   
PAYABLE TO:          Suffolk OTB Employee Account

MAIL TO:                  Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corporation
                                   5 Davids Drive, Hauppauge, New York 11788
                                    Attention: Margaret Koza                                              

CONTACT:                Deborah Pfeiffer, Director of Public and Government Affairs
                                   (office) 631-853-1000, ext. 3558
                                    (cell) 631-703-6389

Finally, two customers at the Airport and Shirley branches placed a $1 Pick 3 wager and each won $881.

The absence of Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra had a negative impact on this year’s Belmont Stakes wagering, much the same as a possible Triple Crown for Big Brown upped the interest and the amount wagered during last year’s Run for the Carnations. Suffolk OTB’s handle for this year’s Belmont Stakes was $1,913,163, which was lower than 2008 but over $70,000 higher than 2007.

(Hauppauge, New York):  Rachel Alexandra — and her jockey Calvin Borel — fulfilled her favored status when she beat Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird by a length to become the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes. Fourteen Suffolk OTB customers celebrated victories of their own when learning that their wagers paid off in thousands of dollars won. A $1 Pentefecta wager at the Racing Forum in Hauppauge resulted in the largest winnings for any customer that day: $17,001.

A Ronkonkoma branch customer bet a $4 Superfecta and won $10,918 and another enthusiast at the same branch bet a $2 Superfecta to receive a payout of $5,459. Not to be left out, a Southampton branch customer happily claimed $5,459 in winnings after also wagering a $2 Superfecta.

Two Racing Forum customers turned $1 Superfecta bets into $2,903 in winnings. Finally, eight lucky Preakness bettors put down $1 on a Superfecta and realized $2,729 in winnings. Those wagers were placed at the Airport, Centereach, Grand Boulevard, Riverhead and Southampton branches.

Suffolk OTB’s handle from this year’s Preakness Stakes was $1,977,481 – up $195,000 from last year’s second leg of the Triple Crown.

The third and final race of the Triple Crown will be on Saturday, June 6^th, when the possibility of a re-match between Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Derby winner Mine That Bird promises to amp up the excitement. Add to that the possibility of a ‘Jockey Triple Crown’ for Calvin Borel (he rode both Mine That Bird in the Derby and Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness) and you have a recipe for a Belmont Stakes like no other.

May 18, 2009

Suffolk OTB Handicapper Nabs National Handicapping Contest’s $500,000 Prize

Suffolk OTB’s handicapper, John Conte, bested over 300 qualifiers, winning $500,000 and the title of Handicapper of the Year in the 10^th Annual Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s (NTRA) National Handicapping Championship. Held at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, the event was the culmination of a year-long series of contests at OTBs, racetracks and casinos. Because of his accomplishment, Conte received an automatic entry in this year’s contest. He will be honored as the NTRA Handicapper of the Year at the Eclipse Awards next January in Beverly Hills, California, where he will stand alongside other exceptional honorees in the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

Mine That Bird Leaves the Pack Behind at Kentucky Derby;
50-1 Long Shot = Big Winnings for Suffolk OTB Customers

(Hauppauge, New York):  Mine That Bird’s electrifying come from behind victory at this year’s Kentucky Derby shocked racing fans and made for some very happy Suffolk OTB customers. At the Commack branch, a $4 Triple Box wager resulted in $78,020 in winnings for one lucky Suffolk OTB customer.

$39,010 was the payout for three Suffolk OTB customers — one in the Shirley branch and two in the Riverhead branch — who had placed $2 Triple Box wagers. Finally, two Suffolk OTB customers at the state-of-the-art Racing Forum each wagered a $1 Triple Box and turned that bet into $20,750 in winnings.

Mine That Bird was the second largest payout in Kentucky Derby history, second only to Donerail in 1913. All told, Suffolk OTB had a total Derby payout of more than one million dollars.

Suffolk OTB’s handle from this year’s Run for the Roses was $2,420,590. Despite the current recession, racing enthusiasts streamed to Suffolk OTB branches. The economic downturn did, however, have a detrimental impact on how much customers placed on their Derby favorites. Although the total number of wagers remained steady, Suffolk OTB recorded a decrease in total handle from last year’s Derby.

Mine That Bird will make the trek to Baltimore’s Pimlico Racetrack for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 16^th. A victory there would put the Derby long shot winner one race away from nabbing the Triple Crown.

A Saturday afternoon regular at Suffolk OTB’s Racing Forum on Motor Parkway in Hauppauge, Joseph Simone — a retirement planner and employee benefits advisor — says that his wagering philosophy is to “bet as little as possible, to win as much as possible.” The 60-year old Huntington resident meets up with two of his buddies on a weekly basis to have a cup of coffee and enjoy the races taking place across the United States and around the world. His racing days started as a young boy with family trips to Belmont with his mother, a sales clerk, and his father, who was a meat cutter. Simone’s favorite bets are the 10-cent Superfecta and the 50-cent Pick Four. Although he never expected to win the Handicapping Contest, he did expect to enjoy himself. Simone looks forward to representing Suffolk at the Coast Casino’s $1 million Horseplayer World Series in Las Vegas. He will be joined by the winners of the two remaining Handicapping Challenges in June and October when he jets off to Las Vegas in early 2010.

Suffolk OTB Sponsors FREE Handicapping Seminar;
Get Ready for Kentucky Derby With “Champagne Joe Militello”

(Hauppauge, New York):  Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (SROTB) is sponsoring FREE Handicapping Seminars at two of its Qwik Bet locations during the month of April. Designed for everyone from the serious racing fan to the novice enthusiast, these seminars will feature professional handicapper and horse racing writer “Champagne Joe Militello.” Joe lives in New York and is well known for his handicapping seminars at Del Mar and Hollywood Park in southern California.

Joe will share tricks of the handicapping trade. Get answers to your handicapping questions. Hear Champagne Joe’s secrets and increase your odds of winning on Derby Day and beyond. In addition to the Kentucky Derby, Joe will also handicap the entire race card for Aqueduct.

Space is limited so call (631) 853-1000, ext. 3584 today to reserve a spot. You may also register in person on the day of the seminar. The dates, time and location of the seminars are as follows:

You can conveniently place a bet and enjoy food and drink at one of our thirteen Suffolk OTB Qwik Bet locations. Log onto our web site at www.suffolkotb.com to find news of future seminars and to locate a Suffolk OTB Qwik Bet near you.

Suffolk OTB Delivers Over 2,000 Letters to Albany Officials;
Immediate Change to State Racing Law Urged 

(Hauppauge, New York): Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (SROTB) delivered over 2,000 personally signed letters to elected and appointed officials in Albany on March 4^th. Governor David Paterson; John Sabini, Chairman of the NYS Racing and Wagering Board; J. Gary Pretlow, Chairman of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee and Eric Adams, Chairman of the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee received copies of the letters, which were signed by SROTB employees, friends and family, retirees and customers.

“The time to act is now,” said Suffolk OTB President and CEO Jeffrey A. Casale. “We can no longer tolerate privately owned harness tracks reaching into the pockets of Suffolk’s taxpayers.” Casale was referring to New York State’s inequitable distribution formulas that require Suffolk OTB to make payments to privately owned harness tracks. These are funds that would otherwise go to Suffolk County and its taxpayers.

“In the current economic downturn, we must do all we can to increase the funds that we send to Suffolk County,” said Suffolk OTB Vice-President Marietta Seaman.

 The State also mandates that OTBs make “dark day” payments, which essentially pays tracks when they are not running races. “These payments are especially ridiculous when you consider that the privately held harness tracks are making millions due to Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs),” Casale said.

Those who signed the letters also urged the State to require out-of-state internet wagering companies to function under the same regulatory and statutory conditions as the New York State OTBs. 

Pictured in the Hauppauge headquarters of Suffolk Off-Track Betting Corporation are President and CEO, Jeffrey A. Casale and Vice-President Marietta Seaman with copies of the 2,000 letters delivered to New York State officials. The purpose of the letters was to urge the NYS Legislature to pass legislation during this legislative session that would enable OTBs to turn over additional non-tax revenue to Suffolk County and its taxpayers.

As a result of this year’s Employee Charity Golf Outing, Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (SROTB) donated $7,500 to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which provides safe and caring environments for thoroughbred horses upon their retirement from racing. SROTB’s donation will benefit the Foundation’s Walkill, New York facility.

Each year, Suffolk OTB employees sponsor a charity golf outing that benefits two charities: one a group that is connected with helping an entity connected with the horseracing industry and the second a local organization. This year’s event was held at Bethpage State Park. The other charity to receive a $7,500 check was Camp Northstar. Located on Shelter Island, Camp Northstar provides camping and recreational experiences for persons with developmental disabilities. The camp is funded through donations and community support so that there is no cost to the campers and their families.

October 6, 2008

NFL at Suffolk OTB’s Racing Forum;
All Games Available on Large Screen Televisions

Suffolk Off-Track Betting President and CEO Jeffrey A. Casale announced that the Racing Forum is showing all National Football Games on large screen televisions.

 “Suffolk OTB’s state of the art Racing Forum will be THE destination for die-hard football fans as well as those who just want to catch a bite to eat and take in the game,” said Casale. Admission will be 25¢ on Sundays and Mondays and food and beverage specials will be available during game time in the Racing Forum’s First Place Bar and Restaurant.

Located at 690 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge, the Racing Forum is the only Suffolk OTB branch that offers patrons track odds and pays track prices. ‘NFL at the Racing Forum’ will conclude with the end of the regular season in December.

Call Suffolk OTB’s Director of Public Affairs at 631-853-1000, ext. 3558 for more information.

Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation has a total of fourteen branches: the Airport Branch (300 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bohemia), the Centereach Branch (1937 Middle Country Road), the Commack Branch (6243 Jericho Turnpike), the Grand Boulevard Branch (860 Grand Boulevard in Deer Park), the Hauppauge Branch (536 Route 347), the Huntington Branch (321 W. Jericho Turnpike), the Patchogue Branch (350 East Main Street), the Riverhead Branch

(1071 Old Country Road), the Ronkonkoma Branch (136 Portion Road), the Route 110 Branch (1741 A Route 110, East Farmingdale), the Shirley Branch (6 Northern Boulevard), the Southampton Branch (829-31 Sunrise Highway) and the Sunrise Branch (1375 Sunrise Highway, Bay Shore).

September 8, 2008

Annual Suffolk OTB Employee Charity Golf Outing
Local and Equine Charities are Beneficiaries

Monday, September 15 proved to be a perfect weather day for the Annual Suffolk Off-Track Betting Employee Charity Golf Outing. Held at Bethpage State Park, golfers tackled the Green Course as they generously assisted two deserving charities. Located on Shelter Island, Camp Northstar provides camping and recreational experiences for persons with developmental disabilities that is funded through donations and community support. The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, provides safe and caring environments for thoroughbred horses upon their retirement from racing.

(Monday, June 23, 2008, Hauppauge, New York):  Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (SROTB) President/CEO Jeffrey A. Casale announced the results of the annual audit of the organization’s financial health: a nearly 7% total reduction in operating, general and administrative expenses for 2007. “We continue to make it our business to mold Suffolk OTB into a lean, efficient business organization,” said Casale. “This audit shows the kind of dramatic results that would make any CEO happy: together with a 4% reduction for 2006, our team has cut expenses by an extraordinary 10% in two years.”

Suffolk OTB Vice-President Marietta Seaman said that there is an agency-wide recognition of the importance of increasing efficiency and curbing costs. “You do not attain this level of performance unless you have the full cooperation of the entire staff,” said Seaman. “Ultimately, we accomplished these cost reductions because the Suffolk OTB culture now fosters an atmosphere of achievement found in the most competitive businesses.”

Despite contractually required increases in pay rates and rent, along with a rise in utility rates, Suffolk OTB reduced its operating expenses by $278,689, which is a 2.1% decrease over the prior year. SROTB also aggressively pursued — and accomplished — decreased insurance costs.

Suffolk OTB also reduced general and administrative expenses by 4.7%, resulting in a savings of $378,529. SROTB reduced staff, which in turn allowed for reduced benefit costs – such as contributions to the New York State Retirement System. Normally, escalating rates for medical insurance benefits would have caused a concomitant increase in this category. Since Suffolk OTB reduced staffing levels, though, medical insurance costs remained flat.

The Hauppauge-based accounting firm of Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck and Company, P.C. conducted its audit of Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation’s 2006 and 2007 balance sheets and the related statements of revenue, expenses and revenue allocation. Also audited were the undistributed net revenue payable to Suffolk County and the cash flows for both years. In business for over 50 years, Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck and Company, P.C. is one of the largest certified public accounting firms on Long Island.

The Suffolk County Legislature’s Presiding Officer, William J. Lindsay, commended Suffolk OTB’s commitment to cost reductions and increased efficiencies, while drawing attention to the increasingly burdensome and dysfunctional revenue distribution required of SROTB. “Suffolk OTB’s budgetary accomplishment should result in a commensurate increase in the amount of revenue that OTB sends to the County,” said Lindsay. “To make this happen, Suffolk County taxpayers need the State to enact legislation that, once and for all, replaces the current inequitable distribution formula with one that is sensible and fair.”

“The reduction in administrative expenses at Suffolk OTB is welcome news,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy. “We hope that OTB will be successful in its efforts to increase the amount of money that it sends to Suffolk for taxpayer relief.”

“The management team at Suffolk OTB has not only stabilized OTB; they have put into place an organization that has at its disposal all the tools it needs to excel in the business of horseracing and providing revenue to this County’s taxpayers,” said Suffolk County Legislator and Ways and Means Committee Member Lynne Nowick. “What’s missing, unfortunately, is a recognition by the State of the pressing need to change the distribution formula so that OTB can increase the amount of revenue it sends to Suffolk County.”

Below are highlights from the Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck and Company, P.C. audit of Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation:

• Cut salaries and wages — including those for administrative appointees — by $228,000

• Out of a 34 line schedule of operating expenses, achieved reductions in 20 lines

• Out of a 30 line schedule of general and administrative expenses, achieved reductions in 19 lines

• Due to reduced staffing levels, cut operating expenses associated with the cost of medical, dental and optical insurance, as well as social security, retirement, disability insurance, life insurance and unemployment benefits

• Under general and administrative expenses, reduced retirement cost from $570,931 in 2006 to $460,368 in 2007

• Also under general and administrative expenses, largest reductions under the following categories:
  
  Printing: 2007-- $82,658 in 2007 (2006 -- $95,298)
  Facility repairs and maintenance: 2007 -- $23,020 in 2007 (2006 -- $36,111)
  Light, power, water and sewer: 2007 -- $81,920 in 2007 (2006 -- $107,807)
  Insurance: 2007 -- $130,632 in 2007 (2006 -- $192,942)
  
  

President Jeffrey Casale concluded with a look to the future financial health of Suffolk OTB and the increasing tax burden on the County’s taxpayers. “We take very seriously our mission to generate revenue for the support of local government,” said Casale. “The results of this current audit highlight our efforts to control expenses and increase revenue. Our challenge now is to compel the State to re-balance the revenue distribution formula. Only then can Suffolk OTB truly fulfill its commitment to the taxpayers of Suffolk.”

OTB is a public benefit corporation that provides over $2 million annually in non-tax revenue for Suffolk County and its taxpayers. Since its inception in 1975, it has generated a total of over $190 million for Suffolk County.

Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation has a total of fourteen branches: the Airport Branch (300 Knickerbocker Avenue in Bohemia), the Centereach Branch (1937 Middle Country Road), the Commack Branch (6243 Jericho Turnpike), the Grand Boulevard Branch (860 Grand Boulevard in Deer Park), the Hauppauge Branch (536 Route 347), the Huntington Branch (321 W. Jericho Turnpike), the Patchogue Branch (350 East Main Street), the Riverhead Branch (1071 Old Country Road), the Ronkonkoma Branch (136 Portion Road), the Route 110 Branch (1741 A Route 110, East Farmingdale), the Shirley Branch (6 Northern Boulevard), the Southampton Branch (829-31 Sunrise Highway) and the Sunrise Branch (1375 Sunrise Highway, Bay Shore).