Danbury Off-Track Betting Faces Final Hurdle: Report

DANBURY, CT — A controversial off-track betting facility in the works for a downtown bar cleared yet another hurdle last week, reports the News Times. The city's zoning commission amended its regulations to allow for off-track betting (OTB) as a secondary use in a restaurants.

An OTB facility has been filed for by Tom Devine, the owner of Two Steps Downtown Grille. Devine hopes to add the facility to the second floor of his eatery. OTB is sanctioned gambling on horse racing, greyhound racing and Jai Alai outside of the race track.

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Area business owners have come out in opposition of the facility, including Pour Me Coffee & Wine Bar owner Andrea Gartner, and Mothership Bakery & Cafe owner Andrea White.

READ ALSO: Danbury Off-Track Betting Plan: Five Things to Know

Sportech Venues has agreed to spend $750,000 to renovated Two Steps Downtown Bar and Grill to allow for a sports bar on the first floor and OTB on the second. Under the proposed agreement, Sportech would provided 1.6 percent of its gross revenue to City Center, which city officials estimate could total $100,000 per year.

Read more from the News Times here.