The Instant Racing issue is coming right down to the wire in Idaho. Governor C.L. ‘Butch’ Otter will decide whether legislation calling for the repeal of Historical Racing terminals will be signed into law or not, after the house voted 49-21 in support of Senate Bill 1011 on Thursday (March 26).
As an article on the website of The Salt Lake Tribune explains, the fate of the state’s horse racing industry could rest on Gov. Otter’s decision.
The report states that lawmakers feel that they were ‘duped’ into supporting a 2013 bill that called for the legalization of the historical racing terminals. According to the lawmakers, they believe that the terminals are cleverly disguised slot machines. Slot machines are illegal in the state.
Officials with Les Bois Park have already announced that the track will shut down permanently on June 30 of this year if the terminals are made to be illegal in the state.
The The Salt Lake Tribune article explains that Senate Bill 1011 is backed by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and that even if the Governor doesn’t sign the bill, there is a good chance repeal will happen regardless.
The report explains that if the Governor does not sign the legislation, lawmakers could override his veto, seeing as though the bill was passed by both chambers with a two-thirds majority.
(With files from the The Salt Lake Tribune)