Horse Racing is a retro video slot game with a classic slot machine theme that trumps the whole horse race thematic that you would have expected from the game. The low-key graphics and short paytable, not to mention the casino in the background do not really scream horse racing at all.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (CN) — The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled Thursday that historical horse racing slot machines are illegal under the state’s definition of pari-mutuel betting, poised to put a dent into the state’s billion-dollar gaming industry.
The court’s unanimous 7-0 ruling further limits gambling in Kentucky as the state already restricts betting to only horse races and has no casinos.
Oral arguments for the case were held in August, and the court’s decision hinged on the exact definition of pari-mutuel wagering and if the betting machines in question fit that definition.
Broadly speaking, pari-mutuel wagering refers to a system of wagers where all bets are pooled together, and in which the bettors are essentially wagering among themselves.
This would be opposed by traditional games of chance like blackjack, where the bettors are directly playing and betting against the casino.
The specific machines being challenged create the bettor’s odds based on three randomly selected historical horse races, which are usually shown on a screen near the top of the machine.
Superior Races Slot Machines
The court found that because the bettors were not necessarily wagering on the same exact race, they were not actually betting among themselves which is required by the definition of pari-mutuel wagering.
Another issue found by the court is that the betting pools must be established only by the betting patrons, and that in practice the establishments actually furnish the initial money pool or in certain circumstances may have to replenish the pool if one patron wins it all.
The ruling does not specifically spell out what happens to these games or the establishments that run them, but the court did acknowledge the impact of its ruling.
“We acknowledge the importance and significance of this industry to this Commonwealth. We appreciate the numerable economic pressures that impact it,” wrote Justice Laurance VanMeter who authored the opinion.
“If a change, however, in the long-accepted definition of pari-mutuel wagering is to be made, that change must be made by the people of this Commonwealth through their duly-elected legislators, not by an appointed administrative body and not by the judiciary.”
The Family Trust Foundation of Kentucky, a non-profit advocacy group and the case’s plaintiff, celebrated the court’s decision.
“The Family Foundation is grateful to the justices for seeing through the smoke screen generated by the tracks and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that for years has masked a form of gambling that ignored the clear legal definition of pari-mutuel wagering,” said Martin Cothran, a spokesperson for the group, in a statement.
“This decision reaffirms that words have meaning and that even the state’s most powerful industry can’t turn the plain language of the law upside-down for its own economic benefit. We are grateful to the justices on the Court for their common sense ruling that the rule of law still prevails.”
Besides just championing the court’s decision, the group also called on all horse racing tracks that run these games to “cease operations until it can be demonstratively shown that their activities are legal.”
Despite the apparent setback of the court’s ruling, attorney Daniel Wallach of Wallach Legal LLC which specializes in sports wagering and gambling law, told Courthouse News that he thought the ruling was not doom-and-gloom, and that the court was simply “punting the issue back to the Legislature.”
“The court is saying if you are going to operate historical horse racing in Kentucky, it has to be pari-mutuel in nature and these games don’t fit within that definition,” Wallach said.” By no means does this decision outlaw historic horse racing, it just requires it to be truly pari-mutuel in nature in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
The ruling overturned a decision from the Franklin County Circuit Court that had found that the machines were legal under the definition of pari-mutuel wagering.
Superior Races Antique Slot Machine Video
Concurring on the ruling were Justices John Minton, Christopher Nickell, Debra Lambert, Lisabeth Hughes, Michelle Keller and Samuel Wright.
The Pragmatic Play is one of the developers that built their reputation with the hard work and not with pretty eyes. This manufacturer, originally based in the Malta, has spread its offices across the Europe, gained the much-needed experience in producing online video games and released some fine products. The free online Lucky Day at The Races slot machine is one of them and comes as the casino product with an unusual theme. As it name implies, the machine spins around its unusual theme that isn’t common in the machines world but is a synonym for the gambling. Although it only incorporates themed symbols, it does a good job with sticking to the simplistic gameplay that relates to the thematics. This slot is similar to KTV.
Powerful Awards
- Play Lucky Day at The Races free slot and enjoy the high chance of earning stunning prices, when compared to the amount needed to roll;
- It provides bettor with a possibility to earn award 500x bigger than his wager, which with will to risk the highest one of 100 coins, may turn back a prize of 50 000 coins;
- If the “real” mode is played, where the user rolls with the real money, the coins are then exchanged for the money that will be transferred to his balance right after the win;
- The Jackpot is obtained with the presence of 5 Wild cards.
Simplistic, Yet Different Bonus Functions
- Play The Ponies
With 3 showcases of the Bonus token, the add-on called “Play The Ponies” will be activated. The details of the gameplay of this function are scarce in the Paytable and it needs an update from the developer, but the user will have to choose the winner of the tournament and became its champion. In return, he shall receive the appropriate reward for this arcade styled add-on. - Free Spins
As it name suggests, it comes as the simple and well-known bonus. It is activated once the player wins 3 or more Scatters on the reels, which will activate 7, 15 of 30 gratis rounds, depending on the number of the tokens won. Rules are the same as in the basic mode and it can be reactivated
Play And Pay System
- The Lucky Day at The Races slot game involves standard 5×3 layout with 5 reels and 3 rows per each;
- The betting system allows the alteration of the number of lines (1 – 20) and bet per each, which in end changes the total stake;
- Furthermore, the total stake can be lowered from 200 till just a 0.01, if only played on the single winline;
- The awarding system requires that all paying combinations must start from the leftmost reel, thus lowering winning chances.
Animated Icons
They come as big variety, but all 13 are true to the theme, with the additional numbers and letters. Included are Scatter, Bonus, and Wild tokens, which functions are noted in the Paytable. Paytable is accessible from the dedicated button on the bottom. The animations of the symbols of the Lucky Day at The Races slot machine game can be turned off.