A 1% takeout increase on all bets made in New York on out-of-state Thoroughbred races has been postponed until next March.

The New York legislature has amended a bill passed in June authorizing the state takeover of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. that would have included the takeout increase, which was scheduled to begin on September 15.

Instead, it will become effective on March 15, 2009. It was inserted into the state budget cut bill passed by the legislature in a special session this week and signed by New York Governor David Paterson on Wednesday

“The takeout provision was widely opposed by NYRA, the state’s off-track betting corporations, and various out-of-state tracks and simulcast venues,” a NYRA statement said.

“While NYRA understands the state’s motivation in going forward with the takeout increase, upon closer inspection and conversations with industry stakeholders it became clear to legislative leaders that the increase would have unintended consequences on the New York pari-mutuel industry’s ability to import simulcast signals and negotiate simulcast agreements, and would have unfairly disadvantaged New York customers.”