Kentucky Instant Racing appears back on track

The Kentucky legislature will apparently leave it to Gov. Steve Beshear or the state’s racing commission to authorize Instant Racing machines at racetracks after Senate president David Williams announced Tuesday a change to the proposed bill would now require a 1.5 percent tax on wagering to go directly to purses and breeders incentives.

 

The Instant Racing machines-where bettors wager on random, previously run races--are part of a previously-introduced House Bill 368, but Williams said that part was amended to place the proposal separately, where it would have to be approved by executive order of Gov. Beshear or by an administrative regulation by the racing commission for implementation.

 

Williams, who has been adamantly opposed to adding video lottery terminals at the tracks, reportedly said that with the wagering tax added to the bill he could support the Instant Racing machines. The Instant Racing machines had originally been proposed as part of a bill that calls for the taxation of bets made via telephone or advance depositing wagering companies.

 

“It will not allow Instant Racing, it will not authorize Instant Racing…but it will protect the position of the purses and the incentive funds if such action is taken by the executive branch,” Williams was quoted as saying.