Wyoming Panel OKs Historical Racing Games
Blood-Horse
The Wyoming Pari-Mutuel Commission Nov. 13 approved two companies as historical horse race wagering providers and authorized use of several game themes.
Before the November meeting, EncoreRBG and Wyoming Horse Racing announced an agreement that calls for Encore to provide several hundred historical race wagering machines, a pari-mutuel wagering system, and pari-mutuel game themes to various Wyoming Horse Racing properties throughout the state.
The WPMC also approved two historical race wagering games devised by RaceTech, another provider that also has a presence in Arkansas and Kentucky.
In early October, the WPMC shut down historical race wagering operations in the state because it believed the terminals had a component of luck or randomness in contradiction with state law. Wyoming Downs said it asked the commission to allow the machines to operate while adjustments were made; historical race wagering remains legal in Wyoming.
Wyoming Horse Racing offers live racing, full-card simulcasts, and historical race wagering at various locations in Wyoming.
“The Encore system was built from the ground up to comply with all statutory requirements in Wyoming,” Encore president Jeremy Stein said in a release. “We are pleased that the commission approved Encore and found that all Encore wagers and game themes are in fact pari-mutuel wagers on the outcome of horse races, as is required by Wyoming law.”
“This was a big win for all of Wyoming, and we are confident that Encore will produce record handle numbers here in the state just as they have done in Kentucky, which will generate significant revenue for the horse industry, as well as Wyoming cities and counties,” Wyoming Horse Racing president Eugene Joyce said.
Encore services Kentucky Downs, which has the most lucrative historical race wagering facility in the country. A new facility at Red Mile jointly operated by Keeneland is served by RaceTech and has produced promising numbers after roughly two months of operation.
