10
REASONS IDAHOANS NEED LOTTERY PRODUCTS IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT
AT LICENSED PARI-MUTUEL FACILITIES
1. To revitalize the live horse-racing industry and, in
turn, benefit horse owners, trainers, breeders and other
whose livelihoods depend on Idaho’s horse-racing
industry.
2. Allowing video lottery products in electronic format
at licensed year-around pari-mutuel facilities will substantially
increase state tax revenues and other vital services.
3. Providing more gaming opportunities at existing pari-mutuel
facilities will reduce the number of Idahoans seeking
similar opportunities out-of-state, where revenues benefit
other businesses and programs.
4. Strengthening horse-racing at Idaho pari-mutuel facilities
with lottery products in electronic format will protect
thousands of existing jobs and support the industry by
adding many new jobs.
5. Increased tourism and patronage to Idaho tracks with
electronic lottery products will boost both local and
state economies in Idaho.
6. Strengthening live horse-racing at Idaho tracks will
stem the steadily decreasing tax revenues paid to the
state treasury by tracks, vendors and patrons who pay
taxes on their winnings.
7. Farm revenues in Idaho will grow from purchases by
a lottery product in electronic format and strengthen
the horse-racing industry.
8. Adding lottery products in electronic format to licensed
pari-mutuel sites will provide additional funding for
Education in Idaho.
9. Lottery products in electronic format are a form of
entertainment that many people enjoy. These players should
not have to leave the state to play or pay where no tax
revenue is directed to the State of Idaho.
10. Legal gaming should NOT be expanded geographically,
but should be allowed in a licensed, safe and highly regulated
environment with a history of fairness and integrity.
VITAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT IDAHO'S HORSE-RACING
INDUSTRY
Q. IS IDAHO’S HORSE-RACING INDUSTRY IN GOOD FINANCIAL
SHAPE?
A. No. Horse-racing in Idaho has been
on a steady decline for nearly two decades. In 1981,
the state’s “handle” – a fixed
percentage of the total amount wagered that is dedicated
to operating expenses, purses, and state/local taxes
– was $11,052,755. In 1988, a year before the
State Lottery was introduced, the racing handle still
was at $9,747,914, but by 2007, the handle had fallen
to just over $3.1 million – a precipitous decline
of more than 67%. That decline was accelerated by the
growth of gaming in surrounding states and parts of
Idaho.
Q. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
TO HAVE A HEALTHY RACING INDUSTRY?
A. Racing, and the people it employs,
makes an important contribution to Idaho’s economy
– the tourism dollars that racing draws, the jobs
created, and tax revenues paid to the state. These activities
are especially important in Idaho’s rural communities,
where the annual racing meets are struggling to survive
– not only Boise, Idaho Falls and Pocatello, but
Emmett, Malad, Burley, Blackfoot, Jerome, and Rupert
all offer live horse-racing (Post Falls offers Simulcast
only).
Q. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF
WE DON’T HELP IDAHO’S RACE TRACKS?
A. We’ll lose the jobs, revenues
and entertainment provided by a healthy horse-racing
industry. A strong horse-racing industry benefits horse
owners, breeders, trainers, grooms, and jockeys. It
benefits thousands of average citizens working at tracks
taking tickets, serving food, cleaning out stalls, walking
horses, etc. – not to mention all the folks who
go out to the local track for entertainment. It benefits
hundreds, perhaps thousands, of small businesses depending
directly or indirectly on racing – restaurants,
hotels, feed and tack stores, veterinarians, transportation
providers, boarding facilities, farriers and other service
people.
Q. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO
STRENGTHEN OUR HORSE-RACING INDUSTRY?
A. We can follow the successful examples
of other states that have developed new kinds of gaming
opportunities at tracks to help horse-racing compete
with other gaming operations such as casinos, state
lotteries and other legalized gaming. In many states,
tracks have been authorized to add lottery products
in electronic format, and they offer the most promising
help for Idaho’s horse-racing industry.
Q. WHAT IS A LOTTERY PRODUCT
IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT?
A. A lottery product in electronic
format is a form of electronic gaming device. They are
found only in jurisdictions that already have an approved
state lottery. Electronic lottery products are connected
to a state-controlled central computer commonly referred
to as the “central system.”
Q. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
LEGISLATIVELY TO AUTHORIZE ELECTRONIC LOTTERY PRODUCTS?
A. Lottery statutes need to be amended
to allow the Idaho Lottery to offer a lottery product
in an electronic format, at facilities licensed by the
Idaho Racing Commission.
Q. HOW WILL ADDING ELECTRONIC
LOTTERY PRODUCTS AT HORSE TRACKS AID IDAHO’S HORSE-RACING
INDUSTRY?
A. Like any other business, horse breeders
need to locate and operate where they can make the most
money. Lottery products in electronic format will attract
new patrons to horse race tracks. Increased play at
video lottery terminals will provide more money for
purses and draw larger crowds. This will bring top-flight
horses back to the state.
Q. WHY SHOULD NON-RACING
FANS CARE ABOUT SAVING HORSE RACING IN IDAHO?
A. Revenues to the state from horse
racing help support a variety of important services,
including education and other programs that the State
chooses to fund. A strong horse-racing industry also
will provide many permanent jobs for Idahoans.
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