Idaho lawmakers expressed deep concerns this morning about slot machine-like “instant racing” betting machines that have been installed in the Treasure Valley, in Post Falls and in Idaho Falls under legislation passed two years ago authorizing betting on “historical” horse races. “This committee was flatly deceived on historical horse racing,” Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, said in this morning’s House State Affairs Committee meeting. “And what we voted for is not what we got.” You can read my full story here at spokesman.com.

Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, said, “I was really suspicious about this bill in 2013. I was really suspicious about it and my suspicions were proven to be true.”

The committee had a proposed administrative rule up for approval proposed by the state Racing Commission, to put what some called a “low speed bump” in front of the spread of the machines, by requiring prospective new licensees to have had simulcasting licenses for a year. Currently, there are only three existing simulcasting licenses, and they’re at the three places that already have the machines.

Some committee members, including Luker, backed the rule as a first step toward reining in the machines, but Bill Roden, lobbyist for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, urged rejection of the rule, saying approving it would endorse the existing scheme – and instead, the Legislature ought to step back, repeal the 2013 law and start over.

After much discussion, the panel decided to delay its vote on the rule for a week and get more information, including about an investigation that’s been launched by the Post Falls Police Department into whether the machines at the Greyhound Park Event Center there are illegal slot machines. Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, said he supports “historical racing” – betting on replays of past horse races – and the funds it raises for Idaho’s horse industry, but is concerned that the way the law has been implemented violates the Idaho Constitution’s ban on slot machines. “If we’re going to allow gambling, let’s change the Constitution,” Barbieri said. “I’m OK with that, I have no objection to that, but changing the Constitution is going to be very difficult.