Governor Considering Horse Betting

Governor Jennifer Granholm is trying to decide if adding what are basically slot machines with horse racing to three Michigan horse racing tracks is a good idea. The machines would allow gamblers to place wagers on races that have already been won. If they are approved, they could bring the state $50 million in revenue.

The machines have races in them that gamblers could try and determine the winner of. They would purchase a plastic account card, then bet on the race. The races would have a track name and race number but no other information. The races will come from outside of the state, and they can be as old as several years ago, or as recent as last week. Then bettors just decide what horse and whether they want win, place or show.

The machine shows the possible winning play offs, and when the bettor has decided what they will wager, then the wagering closes and the race plays on the screen. If they win, the money is credited to the player’s card. The machines are called Horse Wizard, and Magna Entertainment is the genius behind them.

The state’s constitution however, is pretty clear about the fact that any sort of new player operated gaming device or expansion is only possible with a statewide referendum. Horse track owners say that the machines are already legal, but critics say that they aren’t. According to the governor’s camp, she has not made a decision, but considering their current budget crisis they could not afford to not consider all options.



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