Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown (D) is stepping down from City Hall to take on a more lucrative position as president and CEO of Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. (Western OTB). After leading New York’s second-largest city for nearly two decades, Brown will officially resign in the coming weeks to assume his new role with the government-owned betting entity.
Western OTB is one of five corporations in the state that facilitates parimutuel wagering, live horse racing, and video lottery terminal (VLT) gaming on behalf of municipalities and the state. Brown, Buffalo’s longest-serving mayor, was first elected in 2005 and is the city’s first Black mayor. He was reelected five times, most recently in 2021, after a successful write-in campaign following an unexpected loss in the Democratic primary.
“After nearly 20 years as mayor, I have loved serving the people of Buffalo, but the time is right to transition to a new role,” said Brown at a recent press conference. His departure date is yet to be confirmed, but Buffalo Common Council President Christopher Scanlon will serve as acting mayor until Brown’s term officially ends in 2025.
New Role at Western OTB
In his new role, Brown will oversee Western OTB’s operations, which include 33 off-track betting locations, telephone account betting, and online wagering via BataviaBets. The corporation also owns Batavia Downs, a harness racetrack and gaming facility that features over 925 VLTs—slot-like machines connected to a centralized system managed by the New York Gaming Commission.
VLT revenue is split among the machine’s host facility, the state, and administrative costs, with 46% going to the venue, 44% to the state for public education, and 10% for overhead.
Brown’s move to Western OTB comes with a significant salary increase, boosting his current $178,500 annual pay as mayor to $295,000 as CEO of the betting corporation. His new compensation will surpass that of New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and is more than six times the average salary of a Buffalo resident.
Replacing Controversial Leadership
Brown will succeed Henry Wojtaszek, who led Western OTB since 2016 but resigned earlier this year amid controversy. Wojtaszek faced allegations of misusing corporate resources, including receiving free event tickets and awarding contracts to politically connected vendors. Despite his resignation, the board awarded Wojtaszek an additional year’s salary of $287,000.
Western OTB board members are optimistic about Brown’s leadership and believe he can help the organization push for expanded sports betting options. Currently, only commercial casinos are permitted to offer in-person sports betting in New York, with online sportsbooks also in operation. The board is hopeful that Brown’s political connections, especially in Albany, will help further OTB’s interests.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have someone of Mayor Byron Brown’s caliber lead Western OTB,” said Board President Dennis Bassett.
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