"According to eyewitnesses a representative of the Arcadia Police Department along with several law enforcement officers with patches that read "California Department of Justice Attorney General" came into the grandstand area where the Racing on Demand machines were located and unplugged them, placed them on handcarts and removed them from the building. The employees working in the area were told to leave as about 15 officers confiscated the machines, including all the cash in the machines."
"The machines, which allow people to bet on past horse races in a slot-machine-type format, were put into the grandstand area of Santa Anita on Thursday with no notice. Santa Anita did not advertise the machines or mention it in its fan newsletter. It was called a soft opening. The move to install the machines came without advance notice to the California Horse Racing Board."
"It's unclear who or what precipitated the removal but the tribes, which control most non-pari-mutuel wagering in the state, told The Times that it would have a "full throated" response to the installation of the machines, which it says violates the tribal compact on gambling. The tribes are a very powerful force in state politics and contribute millions of dollars to political candidates."
Santa Anita installed Historical Horse Racing "Racing on Demand" machines in the grandstand without prior notice to patrons or the California Horse Racing Board. The machines allowed betting on first, second and third finishers in three past races in a slot-like format and were quietly soft-opened on Thursday. On Saturday, Arcadia Police and officers from the California Department of Justice removed and confiscated the machines and the cash, telling employees to leave as about 15 officers carried them out. Tribes controlling most non-pari-mutuel wagering said the machines violated the tribal gambling compact and promised a strong response. Santa Anita maintains the machines comply with pari-mutuel rules.
Read at Los Angeles Times
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]