I have the same issue and nothing of that you suggested worked. I need help I've put so much money, time and effort in it.
Since i've built Springfield Downs everytime i open the game, it forces me to bet on the 1:2 dog. When i say forces I mean i cannot to anything else but bet on the dog. I dont have enough cash and it wont let me purchase more. Whenever i open the game it has a sort of spotlight around sprinfield downs and an arrow pointing down at it, and i am unable to do anything else, not even collect money from missions or whack snakes. The only thing it lets me do is open springfield downs, place a bet, then says you do not have enough money, and prompts me to "get more money", and freezes, not letting me even cancel or purchase money. I continue to reboot the game, i've tried logging off and back in, also deleted the game and re-installed.
Here are some screenshots I shot.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/194/image1hl.png/http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/imageko.png/http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/713/image2sx.png/http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/image3kf.png/