Gary Kaplan, founder of the now-defunct online gambling business BETonSPORTS, delivered a big win to the U.S. Department of Justice last week when he pleaded guilty to racketeering and fraud. Part of the plea-bargain included Kaplan's forfeiture of more than $43.65 million in proceeds he acquired from running the billion-dollar betting operation in Costa Rica.The feds have wasted no time in making available that $43.65 million to bettors and others who spent money with BETonSPORTS and Kaplan.
After trying for years to get slot machines at tracks, the Illinois horse-racing community is hoping the next-best thing will help the troubled industry. Yesterday the Illinois Racing Board legalized online gambling for horse racing. As the Belleville News-Democrat reports this morning, the racing board approved three online companies to handle the bets for the state's five race tracks. The company TVG (www.tvg.com) has partnered with Fairmount Park. A portion of all horse bets plac
