Historic racing machines may be making a comeback in Idaho and Wyoming, where the machines have been removed from racetracks—but for different reasons.
In Idaho, Governor C. L. “Butch” Otter said he wants historic racing terminals reinstated but more strictly regulated. Earlier Otter had vetoed legislation banning the games, but the measure was not returned to lawmakers in time before it automatically became law. As a result, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled the games are illegal.
In a statement, Otter said he vetoed the historic racing bill to help save the horseracing industry. “Let’s start with the steps I laid out in my veto message last winter: creation of a state gaming commission to set operating rules that are sensitive to community and industry concerns, restoration of horse racing services – including parimutuel terminals – but with tighter regulations on the location of the machines and operations.”
Otter spokesman Jon Hanian emphasized the governor is not overtly calling for historic racing’s return. “The governor is saying this topic is not over. The debate is ongoing,” Hanian said.
Proponents said historic racing machines were a key component to save the horse industry, since a portion of the games’ profits went to sustain racing owners and breeding organizations. Those opposed to historic racing include the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which operates video gambling at its reservation casino.
In Wyoming, Wyoming Downs owner Eric Nelson said he plans to offer different games to replace the historic racing machines that were shut down by the state Parimutuel Commission. The commission ordered bars and off-track betting sites to turn off the games after the state attorney general concluded they were in violation of state law prohibiting slot machine-type gambling in most of the state. Numerous employees were laid off.
Nelson said he’ll ask the commission for permission to install a few different games that use older technology without the slot-like functions. Also, he said the games that were shut down are being reprogrammed.
“It’s just something where in the software here they want us to change the mechanics of it and with that we’re going to make the changes and get back up and running,” Nelson commented.
Nelson said because of the loss of revenue while the terminals have been shut down, fewer live horse races will be offered at Wyoming Downs next year. This year the track ran 16 live horse races; Wyoming Horse Racing LLC, which also offers live, simulcast and historic horse racing, held nine live horse races. Historic racing profits subsidized both live and simulcast horse racing in Wyoming. “We don’t know if we’ll have two days or 10 days of racing, but I know purses will be lower and the number of days will be lower. We won’t hit what we hoped and planned earlier in the year,” Nelson said. He added without historic racing, live horse racing and simulcast racing cannot make enough money to be sustainable after expenses and prizes are paid.
In 2014, bettors placed $113.6 million in wagers on historic racing machines in the state, compared to $1.15 million wagered on live horse racing and $6.2 million on simulcast racing.
