General manager of The Woodlands leaving for another post

Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000 | 10:07 a.m.

August J. Masciotra was named Monday by Las Vegas-based I2corp.com as president of its Home Gambling Network Inc. division. The unit hopes to license its patented systems to Internet and other high-tech gambling service providers.

Allan P. Meyers, a former Kansas City, Kan., police chief who is The Woodlands' security director of security, will be acting general manager.

Masciotra said The Woodlands' uncertain future was not a factor in his decision to leave. He said the track is producing a cash flow and generating attendance ahead of a year ago.

"There's a lot of upside there," he said, especially if the Kansas Legislature approves a bill that would permit local-option voting to allow slot machines at state-licensed tracks.

Home Gambling holds patents for e-commerce systems that allow wagering on live gambling events by the Internet, television, satellite, cellular phones and other electronic means.

About 40 countries have legalized various forms of gambling on the Internet and other delivery systems.

The company has no licensees yet for its approach to remote gambling, which accepts electronic wagers from players as they monitor broadcasts of live events from horse races to craps to slot machines.

Masciotra formerly was a state racing commission regulator in Nevada and Colorado and an executive with the company that developed Caribbean Stud, a casino card game.