Though online casinos are not permitted to operate in Israel due to a legal prohibit, there have been some expansion in the country regarding sports betting. Israel’s social and economic cabinet lately accepted the expansion of horse racing tracks in the north and south of the country, which would contain betting at the tracks. The government will now have to pass legislation in order to change the law that currently exists in Israel banning gambling in sport. Maybe the online casino industry might see some changes in the future as well.
The first race track will be in the north of Israel in the Gilboa area, and later one will also be built in the south. The hope was that capitalists would be optimistic to devote in raising horses, establishing veterinary facilities, riding schools and services, and that this would offer jobs and improve the economy in these two regions of the country.
Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz planned the proposal and said it would be a great enhance for the country economy in Israel. He said the rules for betting would be synchronized with the council that arranges gambling in sport. The ministry will manage all features of horse racing to assure legality.
The capital backed the suggestion from the outset and said the first tender for the race track would be issued within six months. The hope is that thousands of jobs will be created in the north.
Horse racing brings in millions of dollars in many countries around the world and jockeys make good wages. Many efforts were made to bring the sport to Israel in the past- at the existing private racing club in Pardes Hannah, Jews and Arabs take part side by side without the smallest amount of problem.
A local horse lover, Daman Zuabi of Taibeh-Zuabiyeh from village near Afula said “When I heard the news, I nearly fell off my seat,” “I buy feed for my horses before I buy myself a shirt,” he continues. Zuabi, who used to own seven horses and now has two. The horse race track is a dream which he now hopes to come true.
Zuabi said: “I want a horse farm that will be recognized worldwide, and a riding school,” “It is impossible to imagine what this will do for the area. People will have jobs and everyone knows that makes people happy. Children will come after school to the horses instead of to the streets.”
The chair of the Gilboa regional council, Danny Atar added “We have a great deal to learn about the subject, starting from producing the right feed for race horses and including the veterinary services,” “We have to put ourselves on an international footing because horses are sent from country to country.”
Atar’s deputy, Eid Salim says “This will become a different world,” “The whole region will breathe tourism. Take Afula, for example. It will become a major town, and only a railway from Haifa to Afula is now missing.”
“It’s not by chance that our area has been chosen. A horse is an animal that brings people together. Whoever loves horses, loves people and we in this regional council have made it our aim to live together, in sorrow and in joy - Jews, Arabs, moshavniks, kibbutzniks - we have them all.” said Zuabi.