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Instant Racing, known generically as historical race wagering, is a system of gambling on video replays of horse races or dog races that have already been run, using devices that resemble slot machines. The system debuted in 2000 at Oaklawn Park and Southland Greyhound Park in Arkansas.[1] The devices have been installed at racetracks in Kentucky, where the Kentucky Supreme Court is considering whether they are legal under the state's parimutuel wagering law.[2]

History

The idea of historical race wagering was conceived by Eric Jackson, general manager of Oaklawn Park. He brought the idea to three major companies in January 1997, but found no takers. Later in the year, he met with Ted Mudge, president of AmTote; Mudge liked the idea and asked Jackson to present it to experts at a racing industry gathering in Maryland in February 1998. The project gathered momentum from there.[3] After approval by the Arkansas State Racing Commission,[4] a test deployment was launched in January 2000 at Oaklawn Park and Southland Greyhound Park, with 50 machines at each track.[5] The machines were popular from the beginning, and within two months, Jackson reported that as many as a dozen other tracks were pursuing approval to install the machines.[6]

The Oregon Racing Commission approved Instant Racing machines at the state's racetracks in April 2003.[7] Twenty units were installed at Multnomah Greyhound Park the next month, and were then moved to Portland Meadows in October.[8] The machines were removed in November 2003 at the direction of the tracks' parent company, Magna Entertainment.[8] The Commission in 2006 approved a request from Magna to bring the game back to Portland Meadows,[9] but then reversed itself a year later under pressure from Attorney General Hardy Myers, who believed the machines to be illegal.[10][11] The state enacted a new law legalizing Instant Racing in June 2013.[12]

Instant Racing machines were installed at Wyoming's four off-track betting parlors beginning in July 2003,[13] after approval of the Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission.[14] The machines' legality was soon called into question by the state Attorney General, and they were removed in 2005 after a court ruling.[15] The Wyoming Supreme Court ultimately ruled them illegal in 2006, calling the game "a slot machine that attempts to mimic traditional pari-mutuel wagering".[16] In 2013, the state legislature re-legalized Instant Racing.[17]

References

  1. ^ Harry King (April 1, 2000). "Hitting jackpot with machines". Daily News. Bowling Green, KY. AP.
  2. ^ Janet Patton (August 21, 2013). "Kentucky Supreme Court hears 'instant racing' arguments". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  3. ^ Harry King (January 15, 2000). "Plan took shape in room on island". Associated Press Newswires.  – via Factiva (subscription required)
  4. ^ "Minutes of the Meeting of the Arkansas State Racing Commission" (PDF). January 13, 2000. Retrieved 2013-09-26.
  5. ^ Harry King (January 14, 2000). "Track unveils new machines". Associated Press Newswires.  – via Factiva (subscription required)
  6. ^ Harry King (March 28, 2000). "New version of machines is on the way". Associated Press Newswires.  – via Factiva (subscription required)
  7. ^ "Instant racing to start at area racetracks". Associated Press Newswires. April 24, 2003.  – via Factiva (subscription required)
  8. ^ a b Jeff Mapes (November 25, 2003). "Owner of Portland, Ore., racetracks scratches race-based video games". The Oregonian.  – via Factiva (subscription required)
  9. ^ "Minutes, September 21, 2006" (PDF). Oregon Racing Commission. p. 21. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  10. ^ "Magna considering future of live racing at Portland Meadows". Portland Business Journal. August 10, 2007. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  11. ^ Janie Har (October 6, 2007). "Has horse racing run its course?". The Oregonian.  – via NewsBank (subscription required)
  12. ^ Adam Worcester (July 12, 2013). "Struggling Portland Meadows battles to overcome the odds". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  13. ^ Jennifer Frazer (October 25, 2005). "Poised for a comeback". Wyoming Tribune-Eagle.  – via NewsBank (subscription required)
  14. ^ "Minutes of the July 11, 2003 meeting" (PDF). Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission. p. 2. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  15. ^ "Businesses pull race machines". Billings Gazette. July 15, 2005. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  16. ^ Ben Neary (May 3, 2006). "Wyoming Supreme Court rules against 'instant racing' machines". Billings Gazette. AP. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
  17. ^ Steve Luhm (March 9, 2013). "New law jump-starts horce racing at Wyoming Downs". Salt Lake Tribuen. Retrieved 2013-10-05.
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