Horse Race Machines Spark Debate

Greyhound Park and Event Center General Manager Doug Okuniewicz talked about the park’s new instant horse racing terminals at the facility Tuesday in Post Falls. (SR photo: Kathy Plonka)

“Instant racing” machines flash neon colors at the Greyhound Park and Event Center in Post Falls, where for as little as a quarter, people can wager on historical horse races. Last year, the park installed the 35 machines with the goal of bringing in new business. “Certain people enjoy this more than betting on live races,” said Doug Okuniewicz, the park’s general manager. “It’s a little slicker and more fun for people who like the electronic side of things.” But whether the instant-racing machines are allowed under Idaho’s Constitution is a matter of debate. Earlier this month, the state’s four Indian tribes asked Gov. Butch Otter to halt the spread of the machines, saying they represented an illegal expansion of casino-style gambling in Idaho outside of Indian reservations/ Becky Kramer , SR. More here.

Question: Has anyone out there played on these machines?