Betfair to offer NYRA pools to its customers worldwide

The New York Racing Association has reached an agreement with Betfair Games Ltd. to permit common-pool pari-mutuel wagering on its races to Betfair's global customers.

Betfair boasts a worldwide customer base of more than 2.5 million people who will now have access to the Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga pari-mutuel pools via www.betfair.com.

"This agreement is a very important step in growing the industry's international simulcast market," NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward said.

"We are thrilled to offer the best year-round racing in the United States to the world's leading online wagering company. Betfair is a cutting-edge organization and we look forward to an expansive relationship with them."

Betfair and NYRA already have a strong relationship via TVG, which was acquired by Betfair in January.

"Following the acquisition of TVG in January, Betfair has been looking to enhance its U.S. racing product offering," Betfair's Head of Horse Racing Development, Steven Johnson, said. "We have entered into agreements with a number of U.S. racetracks, and introduced U.S. Tote betting onto our site last month.

"We are delighted to link up with NYRA, bringing new overseas money into their pools via our worldwide customer base of over 2.5 million, and crucially giving a new revenue stream to their racetracks -- while, of course, delivering further U.S. betting opportunities to our customers."

The agreement reached by the companies allows Betfair's customers to start wagering immediately on live racing at Aqueduct. NYRA recently began its 39-day Aqueduct fall meet, running through December 31 with live racing Wednesdays through Sundays. The highlight of the meet is November 28, featuring the $300,000 Cigar Mile (G1).