ARCADIA — Santa Anita unveiled slot-machine-style gambling on past horse races Thursday, hoping it will be California’s answer to the “historical horse racing” gaming that has boosted track revenue and purses in other states.
Fans arriving for the afternoon’s live races saw about two dozen colorful “Racing On Demand” machines on the main floor of the grandstand. Santa Anita had hosts on hand to instruct users but made no public announcement about the new feature on day one.
Because the gambling is parimutuel, with patrons essentially wagering against each other in a common pool instead of against the “house” as at a casino, Santa Anita believes the innovation doesn’t violate the law or California tribal gaming exclusivity.
Players may risk $1 on a “3×3” bet and win a jackpot if they hit a set of three trifectas or lesser sums of money by getting fewer combinations correct. Although the races from non-California tracks were run in years past, the information displayed about the horses isn’t enough to trip off which races they are. Fans can watch video of the races as the results of their bets are shown.
If popular, “Racing On Demand” could help to supplement purses and help Santa Anita compete for top horses, jockeys and trainers after falling behind other major racing states that have their own versions of “historical racing” machines.
“California racing is struggling. I don’t think that’s a secret,” said Scott Daruty, Santa Anita’s senior vice president. “We’ve got to come up with some additional ideas and additional revenue streams. This is a product we’ve spent a lot of time designing to be compliant with California law.
“These games, as you see them, have never been in play anywhere else. They were designed specifically for here. Hopefully its something that leads to the long-term stability of racing.”