Kentucky Supreme Court To Take Second Look At Slot-Like Racing Machines
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Kentucky Supreme Court will weigh in for the second time in a long-running case challenging the legality of the nearly 3,000 slot-like historical racing machines that have been installed at racetrack-owned venues around the state since 2011.
Casino gambling is illegal in Kentucky, but the machines are designed to mimic slots while basing the results of each spin on an old horse race, selected at random, which players are not able to identify in advance.
The machines are in place at four track-owned venues around the state, with one more on the way and another licensed to open. Since 2011, players have put more than $5 billion into the machines, and the fast-growing industry is on track to reach $2 billion a year in bets.
Wingate ruled in favor of the racetracks last fall after a four-day trial in January 2018, in which he narrowed the scope of the case to the gaming system in use at Ellis Park and at Kentucky Downs, made by Florida-based Exacta Systems.
The operations of the systems in place at Churchill Downs’ Derby City Gaming in Louisville and at the Red Mile harness racetrack in Lexington were not scrutinized in the trial.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, a party in the case, did not oppose the Family Foundation’s request to take the appeal of Wingate’s decision directly to the Supreme Court, skipping the Kentucky Court of Appeals.
But Ellis Park and Kentucky Downs opposed the direct transfer, saying in a March 22 court filing that the case doesn’t meet the standard of “great and immediate public importance” necessary for expedited consideration.
The single-page Supreme Court order says the parties will file legal briefs and eventually argue in person before the high court. A decision is unlikely until 2020.
In a statement, the Family Foundation said it’s confident the Supreme Court will give the issue a fair hearing.
“Not one Kentucky citizen, not one legislator, not one legislative committee and neither of the two Chambers of the (Kentucky General) Assembly has ever voted to legalize these machines, yet we now have six ‘casinos’ authorized in the state,” said Kent Ostrander, the foundation’s executive director, in a statement. “Something has been grievously amiss. It is almost like we now have a fourth branch of government — the gambling branch — added to executive, legislative and judicial.”
Attorneys for Ellis Park, Kentucky Downs and the racing commission did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
You can reach reporter Chris Otts at 502-585-0822, cotts@wdrb.com, on Twitter or onFacebook. Â Â Chris Otts reports for WDRB.com about business and economic topics, higher education and local / state government.Â
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A.) The majority of the money taken by these machines goes to the horse racing industry (a dying industry) and not the Commonweath.
B.) The new Indian casino owners of Ellis Park have already announced plans.to buy/lease/install 1000 additional machines like these at Ellis Park.
C.) Renderings of planned and under construction renovations/expansion at Ellis Park released by the new Indian casino owner of Ellis Park indicate the main emphasis on the renovated Ellis Park will be the “casino”, not the horse track.
OldMusterMan
If you get a chance drop by Ellis Park and put in a dollar in the alleged “Historical Horse Racing” machine and see if a horse racing feature comes up for you to bet?
We know the answer but we also wanted to hear what you found out.
I try not to contribute to the economy of the Commonweath except for gasoline purchases while passing through. And at one time, clothing purchases (no more) in Hanson, KY. Now i just head to the outlet mall in Edinburgh, IN. Tis better to support the endeavors of merchants in God’s Country (a.k.a., Indiana).
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