OTB Betting Begins at Popular Poughkeepsie Bar and Restaurant

Hudson Valley residents have a new place to bet on the horses.

There's sports gambling and then there's placing money on the horses. Forgive the pun, but horseracing is a whole different animal. Watching powerful thoroughbreds push the limits of their physical abilities will make your heart pound with excitement. There's a reason why the Kentucky Derby is called the most exciting two minutes in sports.

As football fans know, placing a wager on a game can make it even more exciting to watch. Horseracing fans have known this for centuries. Whether you're betting a horse to win, place or show, there's nothing like holding your breath during a photo finish and realizing your horse placed.

Off-Track Betting Makes a Comeback in Poughkeepsie

After closing its large betting parlor on Route 44 in Poughkeepsie, OTB moved to a smaller location on Raymond Avenue. Like other OTB locations around the state, the betting center closed during the pandemic and never opened again.

To say that OTB has seen some setbacks would be an exaggeration. Charges of corruption, mismanagement and lack of transparency have plagued different regional OTB organizations, putting the future of the betting agency in jeopardy.

While all of this has left horseracing fans with fewer places to place their bets, one Poughkeepsie location has stepped in with a lifeline to gamblers.

New OTB Location Opens in Poughkeepsie

On December 1, Mahoney's Irish Pub in Poughkeepsie became an official OTB location. From Noon to Midnight every day, customers have the ability to bet on horseraces at all of the racetracks across the United States.

The Interbets machine is self-serve, which means customers won't have to go to a betting window to make their wagers.

So, the next time you're looking to place some money on the horses in Poughkeepsie you can conveniently stop in at Mahoney's and use the machine.