Slot machine-like “instant racing” machines have stopped their whirring, flashing and dinging and gone silent across the state today, as Idaho Secretary of State Lawerence Denney certified into law SB 1011, the bill that overwhelmingly passed the Legislature to repeal authorization for the gambling machines. The Idaho Supreme Court yesterday ruled that Gov. Butch Otter’s belated attempt to veto the repeal bill in April, which wasn’t delivered back to the Idaho Senate until after the five-day deadline set by the Idaho Constitution, wasn’t valid.

“Following notification this afternoon that the Secretary of State had certified SB 1011, Les Bois Park shut down its historical horse racing facility and laid off the 80 employees involved in those operations,” John Sheldon, president of Treasure Valley Racing, operator of Les Bois Park near Boise, said in a statement. “While our Turf Club restaurant, bar and simulcast wagering area remain open at this time, we are assessing the future viability of operating Les Bois Park and conducting a live meet next year.”

Doug Okuniewicz, head of Coeur d’Alene Racing LLC, operator of the Greyhound Park Event Center in Post Falls, was out of the office until Monday and couldn’t be reached for comment, but the 35 machines there have been turned off. The third location for the gambling machines, the Double Down Betting Bar & Grill in Idaho Falls, had its license suspended by the state Racing Commission less than a week ago for failing to obtain county approval before opening the off-track betting parlor. At the time, Double Down's operators said they planned to continue operating while they appealed the suspension, but that was before yesterday's court ruling.

Melissa Bernard, co-owner of Double Down, told the Associated Press she laid off a dozen employees today, just hours after turning off the parlor’s 40 instant racing machines. "We're devastated," she said.