Finish Line: The Rise and Demise of Off-Track Betting

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For nearly 40 years New York City Off-Track Betting was the only legal place where fans could wager on horse racing bets outside of the track. There were over 100 storefront betting parlors in the five boroughs. Owned and operated by New York, OTB employed thousands of unionized city workers, supported an industry, and collected billions of dollars in bets.

But years of greed, political corruption, and bad management bled the coffers dry. OTB filed for bankruptcy and was closed down by the State. Thousands of jobs were lost, small businesses were threatened, and the horse racing industry was never the same.

But OTB’s closing was just the beginning of what became an economic, cultural, and healthcare nightmare for the city, the state, and the workers of OTB.

“Finish Line” is the first film to examine the questions, why did OTB close, who benefitted politically, and who ultimately paid the price for its demise?

“Finish Line: The Rise and Demise of Off-Track Betting” is the story of what happens to people when a billion dollar operation goes out of business.

FINISH LINE: The Rise and Demise of Off-Track Betting

Written, Edited and Directed by Joseph Fusco

Director of Photography Matthew W. Flannery

Produced by Joseph Fusco and Matthew W. Flannery

Music by Stephen Cullo

© 2018 Joseph Fusco 

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