Idaho voters to decide on horse racing betting

A November ballot will include a proposition to let horce racing tracks offer machines to bet on live horse races.

US.- Back in 2015, the Idaho Legislature decided to ban instant racing machines, which were allowed in 2013 to help saving the struggling racing industry. However, voters will be able to decide whether they’d like to bring them back as a proposition to do so will be added to a November ballot.

Should it be approved Proposition 1 would allow machines at racetracks (with at least eight yearly horse races) or at simulcast racing facilities that were grandfathered in when live dog racing was banned in 1996. It would also allow further sites to add them in case a track is approved by the Idaho Racing Commission to hold eight or more live races a year.

“We would hope to work with the city of Idaho Falls and develop a strategic long-term plan to do an operation at Sandy Downs at the racetrack, and we would love to bring back a great business model that was offering good-paying jobs to a large number of (people) in our community,” owner of IdaRacing Melissa Bernard said.

The proposition would clear machines to be available at racing venues, which would generate extra revenue in the segment. 90% would go to betters, 9% to the licencee and 1% to the Racing Commission.

“As a horse owner and a horse breeder, the bottom line profit/loss margin has always been a very tight proposition,” said Mark Curtis, whose family has bred racing horses since the 1970s. “I’m in favor (of Proposition 1) for the ability to increase the purse structure that’ll actually make this a viable business proposition and produce income, viable income,” he assured.