California Cracks Down on New Racing on Demand Machines at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park Introduces New Racing on Demand Machines
On January 15, Santa Anita Park, a prominent thoroughbred horse racing venue, unveiled a new entertainment feature: Racing on Demand machines. These terminals offered visitors a novel way to engage with horse racing by wagering on historical races. The format allowed players to bet one dollar on past races, selecting their top three finishers in a 3×3 setup.
Unlike traditional slot machines, these terminals operated under a pari-mutuel wagering model where players compete against each other rather than the house. Track officials maintained that this method placed the machines under the jurisdiction of the California Horse Racing Board instead of standard casino gaming regulations.
Immediate Backlash and Seizure of Machines
The introduction of these machines met swift opposition from California’s tribal gaming groups, who hold exclusive rights to most casino-style gambling in the state. They argued the new machines bore too close a resemblance to slot machines and thus violated gaming laws.
In response to these concerns, state authorities acted quickly. Just two days after the machines were launched, on January 17, officials confiscated all 26 Racing on Demand terminals as well as the cash they contained.
Tribal Response and Legal Challenges Ahead
The tribes welcomed the swift intervention, viewing it as a necessary step to uphold their exclusive gaming rights. Conversely, Santa Anita Park’s parent company, The Stronach Group, expressed strong disagreement with the seizure. They insisted the machines complied fully with state gaming regulations and announced plans to legally contest the action.
The Stronach Group emphasized its confidence in the clarity of the law and its readiness to defend its position in court. This situation adds to a history of disputes between California tribes and gaming operators over gambling formats, including past controversies surrounding sweepstakes and emerging prediction markets.
Industry observers are closely watching to see if this conflict will escalate into another protracted legal battle over gaming rights in California.
