Are Historical Horse Racing Machines like Slot Machines?

Are historical horse racing machines like slot machines? If so, why don't the casinos that have historical horse racing machines just put in slot machines instead?

Also known as "instant racing," historical racing machines (HHR) look and operate much like slot machines. However, instead of randomizing the outcome of a play like regular slot machines that use a random number generator, HHRs determine winners based on previously run horse races.

On these machines, you bet on the outcome of races, just like you would at any Off Track Betting parlor or horse racing track. The difference is that you’re betting on actual past races. In other words, you don't have to wait around for the race to be run; it's like hitting a fast-forward button for the result, which renders your bet a winner or loser.

Here's how KnowYourSlots.com expresses it. "The machines are set up so you can choose to watch or replay the actual outcome, if that interests you. Or you can tuck it away and focus on the reels, which simply animate an outcome that coincides with the results of your wager. Bonuses are therefore completely predetermined, as the outcome of the horse race was decided in the past, so the game is just providing slot machine-style entertainment."

When a bet is made, a race is randomly selected from a video library of nearly 100,000 of them. Obviously, no identifying information, such as where and when the race was run and which horses and jockeys participated, is revealed. You can do your own "handicapping" by viewing a "skill graph" from the Daily Racing Form, which shows winning percentages of the anonymous jockeys and trainers and the horses' post positions; then you pick the order in which you believe the horses will finish the race. However, since HHR are, for most intents and purposes, slot machines, players usually opt for the "handi-helper" or "auto-cap" function, which enables the machine to select the order for you. Finally, an animated display of the race appears on the screen via spinning reels reminiscent of a slot.

Essentially, like Class II slot machines at tribal casinos that are based on bingo games, rather than the RNG, HHR machines circumvent restrictions against typical slot machines in states that impose them. In Kentucky, for example, which has the most historical horse racing machines, the state constitution allows only the state lottery, charitable gaming, and pari-mutuel wagering. So gaming-device manufacturers came up with the horse-racing machines to skirt the edge of the law: slot machines with pictures of horses on them.

That doesn't mean that they're not controversial. Kentucky now has nearly 5,000 of the machines licensed for use at its five thoroughbred racetracks and two standardbred tracks, but in September 2020, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that the machines don't constitute pari-mutuel wagering, rendering them unconstitutional in the state. The Kentucky General Assembly intervened, so the machines could continue to operate. Future legal challenges to HRR are sure to surface.

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Dave_Miller_DJTB Jan-21-2023

But it’s still using an RNG…

While the machine allows you to pick your own horses etc., in the automatic mode that most players use, the machine picks them for you, using an RNG. So what’s the point?

Brian Jan-21-2023

Louisiana

Louisiana has legalized these for placement at tracks and off-track betting parlors. I do not believe that they are approved for casinos.

Sharon Jan-21-2023

19 Jan

With reguard to the "qod" of January 19.  "POBODY'S NERFECT"

Ray Jan-21-2023

My experience

I have played on machines with "instant racing" in Arkansas (a few years back) and in Kentucky more recently. My understanding was (as Dave pointed out) that it is still a random # generator that provides the outcome. Whether it is these kinds of machines or the class 2 bingo machines, a random number determines whether you win or lose and, if you win, how much. It's a slot machine with an extra step in its decision making.

Roy Furukawa Jan-21-2023

Stardust?

I kind of remember as a kid back in the 1970’s that there were these types of machines near the sports book. Anyone else have a memory of that being there? I just remember thinking why people would play that when they could bet live racing right there. But then I guess some people need constant action or don’t like waiting for a race to run.

rokgpsman Jan-21-2023

HHR machines

The Oaklawn racetrack in Arkansas used to have HHR machines but in 2018 a state election allowed Oaklawn to have a real casino, so the HHR machines were removed and regular slot machines installed, along with table games. For now the only states with HHR machines are Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Virginia and Wyoming. Many states in US allow pari-mutuel betting on horse or dog racing but prohibit slot machines. The HHR machines are a clever way to get around this law since the machines are supposed to be an electronic form of pari-mutuel betting. But they aren't, pari-mutuel betting is when several people bet on the same horse or dog race at the same time and the HHR machine doesn't do that. That's why KY Supreme Court said HHR machines aren't legal per their current laws. But there's too much money at stake, so the KY legislators voted to give HHR machines a waiver and be permitted. All Hail the Mighty Dollar!

Brian Taulbee Jan-21-2023

Cycle?

Might be just me but the one's I've played here in Kentucky. Seems like they cycle. Same results over and over. Just gotta hope when the winner comes up its enough to make up for all the losers in the cycle.

AL Jan-21-2023

What do they look like?

After reading the question and the answer, I still have no idea what these machines are and what they look like and how they operate. How do you simulate a horse race on a trio of spinning reels? It doesn't make any sense to me, and I can't even come close to visualizing a picture of one of these machines. Couldn't LVA have included a photo of one of these machines?

96BPD Jan-21-2023

Youtube

Youtube has plenty of videos of historical horse racing slots. Basically the race is run in a small window in the corner, if you want to see it, time and date stamped. They claim this is "parimutuel" but the pari-mutuel payouts are based on the totes at the date and time the race was run.

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