Site Escapes Legal Woes by Moving to Oregon

The case began in November, when Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery ordered the Ohio-based Web site to shut down. Acting on Montgomery's request, the Ohio Racing Commission told the site to close until Montgomery could issue a ruling on whether the site was legal.

In response the company sought an injunction to keep its service running. Company officials also began relocating the operation to Oregon.

"What happened is that the racing commission allowed the Winticket.com organization to operate on an experimental basis. After review of it (by the Ohio attorney general), there was a decision made that the commission had no authority to allow this type of operation to operate," said Eric Hardgrove, public information officer for the Ohio Attorney's General office.

The company was given a reprieve in January by Ohio Common Pleas Court Judge John Bessey, who ruled that the company hadn't received due process and could remain operational.

The judge also ordered the state racing commission to conduct an administrative hearing, which took place this morning, on the matter.

"The commission determined the point was moot because Beulah Park (one of the racetracks that owns Winticket.com) had moved on and had not violated any rulings of the commission or any Ohio administrative or code law," said Marty Evans, a press officer for the Ohio Racing Commission.

With the move to Oregon, Evans said, Winticket.com is "free to take Ohio bets." He also said that two other tracks are joining to form an Internet wagering service. Their license application was turned down by a vote of 3-2 by the commission at today's hearing.

The two tracks, Sciota Downs and Northfield Park, had joined the Winticket.com case as "interveners" seeking to obtain their own license to provide online wagering on races at their tracks.

Representatives for the two tracks were unavailable for comment regarding their plans, and Winticket.com officials did not return calls for further information.