In New Kent County, Virginia, 600 historical horseracing machines recently arrived at Colonial Downs racetrack, shuttered since 2014. Considered games of skill, the games passed the smell test in the Virginia legislature, where they were approved last year. That assured the purchase of Colonial Downs by Chicago-based Revolutionary Racing for $20 million.
The machines will be located in an area named Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, located on the first floor of the 5-story facility and opening at the end of this month. Off-track betting parlors, also called Rosie’s, also will open in Hampton, Richmond and Vinton in Roanoke County.
The Virginia Racing Commission, which will regulate the machines, has limited them to 3,000 statewide. Revolutionary Racing will contribute a share of the proceeds from the games to a horseracing industry fund, as well as to state and local taxes.
Fifteen days of live racing over five weeks are scheduled to resume in August.
