Ready to ride again

COEUR d’ALENE — Idaho horsemen are attempting to revive instant racing machines, but they are learning it could be an uphill battle this legislative session.

The Idaho Horsemen’s Coalition held a press conference in the Capitol Building Tuesday morning to draw attention to a draft bill it would like the legislature to consider, which would create a new three-person gaming commission to oversee all gambling in Idaho except for the lottery.

Ken Burgess, lobbyist for the horsemen, said the event was well attended and basically accomplished what they set out to do on Tuesday.

“There were a lot of rumors about what was in the bill and what was not in the bill,” Burgess said. “So we thought we would put it out there so everyone could see what was in the bill.”

In 2013 the Legislature passed a law legalizing “historic racing machines” that played old horse racing videos that gamblers could bet on. Lawmakers were led to believe, at the time, that the machines would resemble a microwave oven and that betting would be on a pari-mutuel platform, which is legal under state law.

Last year, however, the Legislature learned the machines actually resembled video slot machines — which are specifically illegal in state law — and some lawmakers questioned whether the betting was in fact pari-mutuel. After weeks of political wrangling, and a botched veto attempt by Gov. Butch Otter, the Legislature successfully repealed the 2013 authorization bill that allowed the machines in the first place.

While he will continue to pursue a hearing to introduce his new bill, he said he thinks it will be “an uphill battle” in this legislative session.

Combined with the fact that the Legislature is expected to adjourn early this year to allow lawmakers time to campaign before the May 17 primary elections, Burgess said there is not a lot of enthusiasm to take the issue back up after the political battles that were fought over the issue last year.

“All of the emotion and drama from last year is still fresh in a lot of their minds,” Burgess said. “But I still haven’t been told I won’t get a hearing.”

During the last session, Burgess said the lawmakers got hung up on the look of the machine, and just ignored the economic impact of the horse racing industry in Idaho.

Burgess said the press conference was also an opportunity to remind legislators of that economic impact.

Monty Arrossa, speaking on behalf of the Idaho Horsemen’s Coalition at the press conference, said “The Idaho live horseracing industry is responsible for over 700 direct and indirect jobs in this state. It contributes over $11 million in direct and indirect employee wages. And is responsible for $40 million in sales of goods and services every year.”

Arrossa said without the pari-mutuel betting options, the major race tracks in Idaho will not be able to host live racing in Idaho this year.

If the bill is introduced, this is essentially what it would do, according to Burgess.

Doug Okuniewicz, general manager of the Greyhound Park and Event Center in Post Falls, said he was aware of the proposed legislation and supported it, but they were not part of the event on Tuesday.

He said they obviously would like to see the machines come back, but he doubts the bill will get a hearing.

“The way I understand it, the chairman of the committee won’t give it a hearing unless they can demonstrate they have the votes to get it out of committee,” Okuniewicz said.

Okuniewicz said the Greyhound Park took its machines offline last year after the Legislature essentially banned them and the State Supreme Court upheld that ban.

Now, Okuniewicz said, they are trying to sell those machines.

This proposal establishes the Idaho Gaming Commission to oversee and regulate electronic gaming in the state, and allows limited pari-mutuel historical horse racing terminals to operate in Idaho.

The Idaho Gaming Commission would be responsible for licensing, regulating, and confirming compliance of electronic gaming machines with the Idaho Constitution and Idaho Code.

The commission would have the authority to review, determine legality, and license new, proposed electronic gaming terminals and machines.

The commission would also have the power to conduct independent inspections to ensure the compliance of electronic gaming machines.

The commission would assume the responsibility to monitor Class III tribal gaming operations to ensure compliance with the Compacts and Idaho Code, which is currently falls under the purview of the Lottery Commission.

The commission would be comprised of three members, who would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.