Santa Anita Park Gains Support from Trade Unions for Betting Machines
The conflict between the state and Santa Anita Park intensified on Wednesday as four prominent trade unions reached out to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. They called for the return of betting terminals confiscated during a state enforcement operation on Saturday. In a parallel action, Santa Anita filed a lawsuit against the state to recover the same machines.
The Service Employees International Union, Teamsters, California State Pipe Trades Council, and the State Association of Electrical Workers united in a strongly worded two-page letter, which criticized the state’s actions as “not only misguided but reckless.” The letter highlighted the impact of the confiscation, stating that the removal of the Racing on Demand machines introduces “unnecessary uncertainty into an industry already confronting significant economic challenges.” It expressed concerns that this decision undermines innovation, deters investment, and threatens the $1.7 billion economic contribution that California horse racing provides to local communities and the state.
On Saturday, 21 employees from the California Department of Justice, supported by two officers from Arcadia Police, seized 26 Racing on Demand machines along with the funds inside. This operation has prompted divisions within the horse racing community.
The state appears aligned with California tribes, which hold jurisdiction over most non-pari-mutuel gambling activities and oppose the terminals. The state’s stance includes control over casinos, table games, and slot machines, while Santa Anita, along with Del Mar and Los Alamitos, argues that the betting operates on a pooled system where patrons wager among themselves. Santa Anita takes a percentage off the top to manage the game but does not dictate payouts.
The lawsuit filed by Santa Anita in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday articulated the desire to leverage funds generated by these machines to enhance race purses, a topic of growing concern within California’s racing community. Several other states, notably Kentucky and New York, supplement race purses using revenue from casino wagering.
As it stands, the current payout for the 3 X 3 game played on these machines is structured with a 22% takeout, resulting in a return of 78% to bettors. The unfolding situation highlights broader issues within the state’s gambling landscape and the future of horse racing in California.
