United Tote
United Tote is an American company that provides totalizator equipment and services for parimutuel wagering at racetracks. It is owned by Churchill Downs, Inc.
Type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Bookmaking |
Parent | Churchill Downs, Inc. |
History
United Tote was founded in the 1950s by the Shelhamer family of Montana.[1]
The company made its initial public offering in 1984, raising $7 million.[1]
In 1986, United Tote bought Sunland Park Racetrack in New Mexico for $3.5 million.[2]
In 1989, United Tote purchased one of its largest competitors, Autotote Systems, from Thomas H. Lee.[1][3] Before the two companies' operations could be integrated, the merger was challenged by federal antitrust regulators.[1] A 1991 court ruling forced the company to split back up, and the original United Tote assets were sold back to the Shelhamer family.[1][4]
In 1994, the company was purchased by Video Lottery Technologies, Inc., a maker of lottery equipment, for $19.6 million in cash, $10 million in promissory notes, and an earnout agreement worth up to $10 million.[5] Video Lottery Technologies, later named Powerhouse Technologies,[6] was acquired in 1999 by Anchor Gaming,[7] which was then purchased in 2001 by International Game Technology (IGT).[8] United Tote became part of IGT's newly formed lottery division.[9]
IGT sold United Tote in 2003 for $12.3 million.[10]
In 2006, Youbet.com purchased United Tote for $31.9 million plus $14.7 million in assumed debt.[11][12]
United Tote became part of Churchill Downs, Inc. in 2010, when that company acquired Youbet.com.[13]
References
- Phyllis Berman (November 9, 1992). "Home on the range". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
- "Sunland Park track sold for $3.5 million". Dallas Morning News. November 10, 1986 – via NewsBank.
- U.S. v. United Tote, Inc., 768 F.Supp. 1064 (D. Del. 1991).
- Form 10-K: Annual Report (Report). Autotote Corporation. January 26, 1996. Retrieved 2015-03-11 – via EDGAR.
- "Video Lottery Technologies completes agreement to acquire United Wagering entities" (Press release). Video Lottery Technologies, Inc. May 5, 1994. Retrieved 2015-03-14 – via The Free Library.
- "Video Lottery Technologies, Inc. announces name change to Powerhouse Technologies, Inc., effective January 1, 1998" (Press release). Video Lottery Technologies, Inc. December 22, 1997. Retrieved 2015-03-14 – via PR Newswire.
- "LV firm completes Powerhouse merger". Las Vegas Sun. June 30, 1999 – via NewsBank.
- Jeff Simpson (December 30, 2001). "Casinos expect more guests, but less money, on New Year's weekend". The Press of Atlantic City – via NewsBank.
- "Reno-based company forms lottery division". Las Vegas Sun. March 19, 2002. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
- Form 10-K: Annual Report (Report). International Game Technology. December 10, 2003. p. 3 – via EDGAR.
- "Youbet.com completes United Tote acquisition following adjustment of purchase price and payment terms" (Press release). Youbet.com. February 13, 2006 – via NewsBank.
- Matt Hegarty (December 1, 2005). "Youbet.com agrees to buy United Tote for $49 million". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2015-03-14.
- Matt Hegarty (June 3, 2010). "Churchill Downs completes Youbet.com purchase". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2015-03-14.