PROFILE OF ETKIN.(MAIN)

Age: 69 Born: Schenectady. Father: Simon Etkin, who served 20 years as city clerk, assessor and alderman. Mother: Ethel Etkin, the only chairwoman of the former Schenectady County Board of Supervisors. Background: As an attorney in the Schenectady corporation counsel's office, Etkin created Schenectady Off-Track Betting in 1972. Etkin expanded the Schenectady-based corporation into a 17-county operation generating more than $440 million in revenue since 1974. After a 12-year lobbying effort aimed at the state Legislature, he transformed a series of dingy, walk-in betting counters into plush parlors or tele-theaters with sports games and simulcasting. An innovator, Etkin recently added Internet gambling, expanding territory to 32 states and six countries and boosting revenues $8 million. Capital District Regional OTB handled a record $2.2 million in bets in 17 counties for the Kentucky Derby. He owes many of his accomplishments to his political savvy, which he has used to advance the cause of off-track betting as well as his own power base. He has a reputation for using jobs to win friends, from politicians to low-wage workers referred by party bosses. Last year, for example, he paid former Albany Mayor Thomas M. Whalen III more than $5,000 in attorney fees. He is not known, however, as a consensus builder, and has made little effort to blunt increasing political criticism, despite the fact that OTB is a quasi-governmental operation. Etkin said Tuesday he is becoming frustrated with ``outside political influence'' and politicians ``telling you how to run things.'' QUOTE: How much longer does he wants to stay? ``You're asking me how long do I want to live. I'll play it day by day, as long as I get paid. I've devoted my life to this. This is one of my hobbies and my job.''