Not all online gambling is illegal in the United States, just the online gambling that does not incorporate the American gambling industry.  If that is not protectionism then nothing is.  However, Betfair, one of the largest online gambling operators in the world, is not letting that stop them from entering the online gambling business in the United States.  While online casinos are off limits, horse racing is an industry that is waiting to be tapped.

The biggest issue in horse racing is keeping the industry alive at all.  Most tracks are turning to slot machines in hopes of turning business around.  Betfair on the other had is turning to the all healing power of the Internet to fix what ails horse racing.

The first step was the purchase of the American TV Games Network.  The network broadcasts horse racing to more than 32 million homes in the United States.  After paying a $50 million price tag, Betfair now owns the network.

To accompany the channel, Betfair plans to build a mega site.  The site will not only accept wagers on live streams of horse racing events the site will also offer the interactive features of some of the best networking sites like Facebook.

The aim for Betfair is to usher in a whole new generation of horse racing fans.  This maybe just the shot needed to keep the industry alive.  Online casinos and Internet gambling has begun to prove it self as the future of gambling.  The sooner the brick and mortar gambling companies can get online the better their survival chances.