Sona bets on wireless wagering in New York

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board adopted a regulation that will allow horse race wagering via the Internet and mobile phones, according to Sona Mobile Holdings Corp., which plans to launch an online wagering platform by the end of this quarter.
The new rule comes into effect Jan. 22, and is expected to clear the way for Sona’s fast-track launch of mobile and online wagering. The regulation stipulates financial reporting, record keeping and operational guidelines for racetracks and off-track betting companies.
“The decision by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board enables tracks to generate more revenues and cuts the costs of placing bets. We expect that it will create a strong demand for our technology and expertise in developing Web-based and wireless waging platforms,” Sona Mobile Chairman and CEO Shawn Kreloff said.
“New York state and the racing and wagering board need to ensure that the hundreds of millions of dollars that may potentially be wagered by telephone and the Internet, in any given year, can be accounted for using uniform and reliable methods,” said Daniel Hogan, chairman of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.
It’s unclear how the new rule in New York, which must still be reviewed and approved by the state Office of Regulatory Reform, relates to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, federal legislation that bans payments to offshore casinos and outlaws all forms of online gambling. The legislation makes Internet gambling illegal except where regulated by states, and specifically exempts state-sanctioned online gambling on horse racing and lotteries.