State Senator Bob Nonini of Idaho is a man who is under pressure to craft some sort of compromise between the state’s racetracks and gaming tribes over the issue of “historic racing machines,” because his district has both a tribal casino and a racetrack.
Gaming tribes are up in arms about the machines, which offer the opportunity to bet on horse races of the past that have been stripped of actual names, with only the statistics remaining. The machines were legalized three years ago, but once they began appearing at racetracks a year ago the tribes, which supported the bill, were appalled because the machines look very much like slots, which are unconstitutional.
So far the machines have increased wagering at Les Bois Park in Boise by $40 million during their first seven months of operation. The park operates 250 of the “instant racing” machines.
Nonini last week introduced a bill that would put a moratorium on future deployment of the machines, while allowing the three tracks that have them to keep them.
His effort at compromise was derided by Coeur d’Alene Tribe lobbyist Helaman “Helo” Hancock who declared, “It looks like a red herring that doesn’t address the real issue.”
A bill that would repeal “instant racing” has also been introduced. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe supports the bill. The tribe’s chairman, Chief Allan, commented last week: “All you have to do is go play them and ask yourself if you are actually betting on a horse race. It’s a hoax that has consistently been found illegal in other states and these machines will continue to make a mockery out of the law until Idaho does something to stop it.”
Tribes who support repeal of the instant betting machines include the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall Reservation, and Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley Reservation. They recently wrote to the governor and attorney general asking that the machines be shut down as violating the constitution.
The ramifications of the dispute have already spilled over into other areas. The annual Julyamsh Pow Wow held in Greyhound Park for 17 years has been canceled.
Allan has upped the ante on the dispute by calling the machines, “a hoax that has consistently been found illegal in other states and these machines will continue to make a mockery out of the law until Idaho does something to stop it.”
Indian tribes are not alone in objecting to the games. Last week about 20 prominent officials and former officials from the northern part of the state, including a college president, a mayor, and a former attorney general, sent a letter to Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter asking for the machines to be banned.
The Senate State Affairs Committee last week heard several hours of testimony from supporters and opponents of the machines, including racing industry representatives who said the tracks would be forced to close without the cash infusion.
Gary Stevens, a Hall of Fame jockey, told senators, “Parimutuel racing is the only way to fund and to keep alive horse racing in the nation. Historical horse racing is a new way to pay patrons. The states that have authorized instant racing know that it has saved their horseracing industry.”
An industry expert from Race Tech LLC, told lawmakers that unlike a slot, instant racing depends on skill rather than random numbers.
Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Nathan Small told the committee, “I respectfully ask and request the committee to support Senate Bill 1011 and send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.” Small complained that instant horse racing doesn’t need to go through the maze of regulations that tribal gaming does.
“It does not appear to me that there is anywhere close to this type of regulation on the instant racing casinos,” he told lawmakers.
Racetrack owner Jim Bernard of the Sandy Downs racetrack in Idaho Falls said he has added 68 employees due to the machines. “All those moneys compete for the gambling money that we’re out to get. So, with those guys functioning—900 machines just down from me—of course, you give people options. I think we at least deserve a fair opportunity to compete for those dollars.”
