Page 19 - January 2007 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper The Game, January 2007 19
HBPA Ontario Update
HBPAAdministrativeOffices:135Queen’sPlateDrive,Suite370,Toronto,ON,M9W6V1 phone:416-747-5252
Report from the Executive Director
The University of Arizona’s thirty third annual symposium on racing this winter was certainly well attended with another strong Canadian contingent. Over 20% of the attendees were Canadians. The HBPA of Ontario was well represented by Director Michael Barkowski, Controller Bill Eastwood, and your’s truly. The two Ontario thoroughbred racetracks sent sig- nificant representation to hear about the topics of the day. Topics such as 1) Wagering Integrity, 2) Conditions and Conditioners, 3) Equine Injury, and 4) Marketing our Industry, were well covered by expert panelists.
The one topic that really struck my fancy was “Internet Gaming-New Realities”. This topic hits home with the recent passing of Ontario’s Bill 60 “Consumer Protection Act” (Internet Gaming Advertising) which will stop the advertising of Internet gaming websites which are not licensed by the appropriate authorities and do not operate in
accordance with the applicable Canadian law.
In the United States,
U.S. Congress recently
passed legislation toughen-
ing enforcement against
overseas Internet gambling
operators through criminalizing their
acceptance of payments
from U.S. customers for
gambling that violates
federal or state laws. To
understand the impact of this legislation, on the day of passing, it wiped out $7 Billion in value on the London Stock exchange.
What the Law Does? The Act makes it illegal for Internet gambling operators to accept any payment for online bets or wagers, and requires financial transaction providers to identify and block restricted transactions. The law seeks to improve enforcement capabilities against unlawful
Internet gambling operators, rather than making Internet gambling illegal. Proponents of the Act believe it solves the enforcement problem by targeting not only the gambling site operators but also the method by which they would receive payment for gambling. The law thus focus- es on two main areas-setting criminal penalties for operators of illegal Internet
gambling sites and requiring financial institutions and payment systems to block payments being made to those sites.
The new law provides a criminal penalty of up to five years for anyone engaged in the business of betting or wagering who accepts payments for unlawful Internet gambling. It is however, the opinion of many that as a practical matter that it may be difficult to enforce the criminal penalties against operators,
as most operators are in foreign jurisdictions where Internet gambling is legal. Even if these operators continue to accept payments from the U.S., the U.S. authorities would need to either seek extradition or hope to catch the operator on U.S. ground. The recent high-profile arrest of BetOnSports CEO David Carruthers during a plane change at a U.S. airport has certainly made operators of foreign Internet gambling sites wary of treading on U.S. soil.
The new law also requires financial transaction providers to develop and implement policies and procedures rea- sonably designed to identify and block restricted transactions. The purpose behind this requirement is the idea that if U.S. residents are unable to use their credit cards or other payment methods to settle their gambling debts, they will be unable to gamble online. The legislation, a step in the right direction.
Executive Director Nick Coukos
2006 ROE’s are now due
The deadline for submission for your ROE (Record of Employment) form is February 1 2007.
Under new pension regulations, individuals who do not submit or have missed two or more yearly ROE submissions may be removed from the plan.
ROE’s can be dropped off at either track office or mailed to the administration office:
HBPA Administration Office 135 Queen’s Plate Drive Suite 370
Toronto, Ontario
M9W 6V1
For information call 416-747-5252
HBPA Backstretch Offices Closed for Season
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings Every Tuesday at 1pm
HBPA Trailer Backstretch Woodbine Racetrack
The HBPA Backstretch office at Woodbine will be closed until Monday, January 29, 2007 when it will re-open Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm until racing begins when the office will then be open 7 days a week.
The Backstretch Office at Fort Erie is also closed for the season and will re-open on Monday, March 5, 2007.
If you require assistance please contact the HBPA administration office in Toronto which is open year round, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and can be reached by calling 416-747-5252.
Trainer and Assistant Trainer Test Schedule for 2007
The HBPA is pleased to announce the schedule for Trainer and Assistant Trainer Testing for 2007:
March 21 - Woodbine Racetrack
April 25 - Fort Erie Racetrack
May 23 - Woodbine Racetrack
July 11 - Both Woodbine and Fort Erie September 12 - Both Woodbine and Fort Erie
All applications must be completed and submitted no later than two weeks prior to the test date. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Application forms are available from the HBPA Backstretch and Administrative Offices.
For more information call the HBPA Administration office at 416-747-5252
Visit us on-line at www.hbpa.on.ca
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Benefits of HBPA Ontario Membership:
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The H.B.P.A. of Ontario
Administration 135 Queen’s Plate Drive, Suite 370 Toronto, ON M9W 6V1 416-747-5252 Fax:416-747-9606
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Woodbine Backstretch Office: 416-675-3802
Fax: 416-675-5569
Fort Erie Backstretch Office: 905-871-3200, ext. 3249 Fax: 905-871-0446