Jamestown OTB office to close Oct. 31

JAMESTOWN - A little more than a month after announcing a record payment to Chautauqua County, the Western New York Off-Track Betting Corp. has announced it will close Jamestown's OTB branch on Second Street.

The OTB board plans to cut its branch operations from eight locations to two, with branches remaining in Williamsville and Gates. Locations in Auburn, Cheektowaga, Empire, Jamestown, Rochester and North Tonawanda are all scheduled to close at the end of October. The OTB board is expected to take formal action on the proposed plan, which was approved after several years of reviewing the financial performance and changing needs of the OTB branch network. An analysis conducted this year examined operating performance, wagering activity, property ownership and value, geographic coverage, customer accessibility, alternative wagering options and the long-term viability of the branch locations.

While Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel has continued to grow, the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. traditional branch operations have faced ongoing financial challenges as technology and online wagering options continue to change how customers choose to wager. The six branches currently proposed for closure lost approximately $730,000 in 2025 and have already lost more than $700,000 through August 2026. Those losses are projected to reach nearly $1 million for the full year.

The proposed consolidation continues WROTBC's efforts to address the changing financial and operational needs of its traditional branch network. From 2020 through 2023, the corporation closed nine branch locations--six in 2020, two in 2022 and one in 2023.

"This recommended Plan was not a decision that was made quickly or easily," said Byron Brown, president and CEO of WROTBC. "These branches have been part of their communities for many years, and we are grateful to the employees who have represented Western and served our customers every day. At the same time, we have a responsibility to make decisions that protect the long-term financial health of the Corporation and allow us to continue growing distributions and investing in our member municipalities."

Under the plan, the consolidation is expected to improve the corporation's financial performance and increase distributions to its participating municipalities, based on 2026 projections, while maintaining a physical presence in both the Buffalo and Rochester markets.

"We greatly appreciate the years of service and dedication these employees have given to Western and to our customers," said Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney, OTB board chair. "Our goal is to handle this transition with respect and to provide as many options as we reasonably can for the employees who are affected."

Following any closures, the corporation expects to begin independent assessments of its owned branch properties. WROTBC anticipates marketing the affected properties for sale following those assessments, with estimated net proceeds of more than $2 million. The corporation expects to use those proceeds to support future growth and capital needs.

"Western has changed considerably over the years, and how our customers choose to wager has changed with it," Brown said. "This proposed plan would allow us to respond to those changes while putting the Corporation in a stronger position for the future.

In August, Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel, operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, presented Chautauqua County with a record second quarter earnings and surcharge distribution of $173,417, the largest second quarter distribution in the county's history. The second quarter earnings and surcharge distribution is $37,999 (28.1%) higher than the $135,418 distributed during the second quarter of 2025.

Through the first six months of 2026, Chautauqua County has received $319,412 in earnings and surcharge distributions, an increase of $50,045 (18.6%) over the $269,367 received during the same period in 2025.

Chautauqua County has received $11,864,027 in distributions from Western Regional Off-Track Betting since 1975.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released an audit earlier this year there has been poor oversight of operations by the OTB board of directors, cost overruns and significant estimation errors. The audit found the agency’s failure to take action to address the declining handle, the total amount wagered on horse races and other gaming activities, adjust to changes in the gambling industry, and control costs. While increased wagering in its video gaming operations improved WROTB’s overall financial condition, its horse racing and wagering operations deteriorated at a steady pace over the audit period. During the four-year period, WROTB’s handle declined 34% ($23.5 million), resulting in less statutory distributions to the horse racing industry, the New York State Gaming Commission, as well as allocations to local governments. In 2024, WROTB distributed $6.7 million to participating governments, over $3 million (31%) less than the previous calendar year.

WROTB’s revenue increased approximately $3.7 million (7%) while operating expenses grew by more than $8.4 million (22%), over the audit period. The most significant expense increases included:

Salaries, which increased by 38% since 2021 and accounted for more than $16.8 million (40%) of WROTB operating expenses in 2024 and exceeded the 2024 operating plan by $400,000.

Professional services, which increased by 23% and accounted for more than $2.5 million of the 2024 operating expenses.

Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation, operating as Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel, is a public benefit corporation owned by 17 member municipalities throughout Western and Central New York. Revenues generated through gaming, racing, hospitality, and wagering operations are returned to member municipalities through quarterly earnings and surcharge distributions, providing critical funding to local governments while supporting jobs and economic development throughout the region.