U.S. District Court Orders BUSR to Pay $3.64 Million in Damages for Unauthorized Betting on Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields Races
A U.S. district court has ruled that BUSR, an unlicensed bet-taking entity, must pay $3.64 million to the owners of Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields. The court found that BUSR violated the Interstate Horseracing Act by accepting bets on races without the track owners' consent. Despite the ruling, the court did not uphold all claims made by the track owners, including allegations of violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
The court determined that BUSR's unauthorized acceptance of wagers from out-of-state bettors on races conducted by the track owners warranted compensatory damages of $3.5 million. The ruling also included an injunction prohibiting BUSR from accepting racing wagers on Santa Anita races from individuals outside of California but within the United States. The court emphasized the need for injunctive relief to address specific harms suffered by the plaintiffs.
While the court did not find any damages against the marketing arm of BUSR, US Racing, it acknowledged the challenges faced by legitimate industry participants due to unlicensed wagering platforms. The ruling serves as a measure of protection for U.S. racing signals in the face of evolving internet landscapes. The Stronach Group, which owns the track owners involved in the case, has previously taken legal action to safeguard its racing product, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat unlicensed wagering in the industry.