Global Symposium
on Racing 2025 Highlights

Last week, AmWager was on site at the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program’s 2025 Global Symposium on Racing. This incredible event combines all facets of the international horse racing industry, and we are proud to sponsor and participate in the panels and meetings.

After participating for over a decade, we always learn something new and leave refreshed, knowing that the industry recognizes the need to better serve horseplayers like you.

A major focus of the three-day event was computer-assisted wagering (CAW) and its impact on non-CAW bettors—the everyday customer—including a specific panel on the issue featuring key racing executives. NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke said that a current NYRA policy blocking CAW bets in the Win pool after two minutes to post will change in the new year. Effective in 2026, all NYRA pools at one minute to post will be restricted to regular throttle limits (six bets per second), helping reduce last-second odds swings across all pools, including the Exacta and Double.

Horseshoe Indianapolis President and GM Eric Halstrom shared the value of imputed odds. We loved hearing this, as we provide imputed odds for all tracksn and all races with our TRU Odds. While CAWs may have greater purchasing power due to larger bankrolls, we take pride in providing you with similar odds estimates and ticket-making tools that they utilize.

Tom Rooney, President and CEO of the NTRA, provided an update on the WAGER Act, a bill that would roll back recent changes limiting how gambling losses can be deducted against winnings. Being able to claim only 90% of gambling losses is not fair, and the NTRA has taken up this effort. The NTRA previously successfully lobbied to change W-2G rules, which also unfairly punished horseplayers. Updates shared at the Symposium indicated the bill has faced no opposition so far, and there was broad agreement that correcting the law is an important step toward treating horseplayers more fairly.

Beyond wagering, the Symposium addressed racing’s broader challenges. Panels explored how the sport must adapt its business model, embrace innovation and technology, invest in modern facilities, and maintain strong regulation and integrity to support current horseplayers and attract new fans. The future looks bright, with new facilities in Maryland and New York, and we heard encouraging news about cooperation in regional racing markets.

We also engaged tote companies and our simulcast partners to provide our customers access to all available pools. In today’s world, there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to bet any pool you want—from a French race conducted by the PMU or a race from the HKJC. We hope to make meaningful headway on this in 2026.

Across the discussions, one message was clear: bettors want fairness, clarity, and better wagering tools. These conversations reinforce AmWager’s continued focus on building tools designed to help players compete more effectively in today’s evolving wagering landscape.