House Bill 594, better known as the bill to ban unregulated and untaxed gaming machines known as “gray machines” in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, was signed into law late last week by Governor Andy Beshear. Kentucky is the first state to pass stand-alone legislation banning unregulated gambling machines.
These machines pose a major threat to Kentucky's historical horse racing (HHR) and the state's racing industry as a whole, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News. These machines can be found in gas stations, convenience stores and bars; they resemble slot machines, but don't qualify as a legal form of gaming in Kentucky. The machines are not registered or tracked, and there is no oversight in their use.
Categories: Kentucky, Government & Policy