Louisiana and New Hampshire are the latest states to embrace historical horse racing through legislative action.
In New Hampshire, Gov. Chris Sununu signed House Bill 626 into law on June 8, authorizing pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing at New Hampshire charitable gaming facilities that were licensed as of May 1, 2020. With horse racing no longer offered in the state, revenue generated from wagering will be allocated to the New Hampshire education trust fund and to local charitable organizations.
Also on Tuesday, the Louisiana Senate voted 32-3 in support of SB 209, a bill that would authorize up to 50 historical horse racing machines at off-track betting facilities throughout the state. The House had previously approved the measure by a 84-11 vote. The bill has language allowing HHR wagering on mobile device apps provided they are used within the confines of a pari-mutuel facility or OTB.
According to the Louisiana State Racing Commission, there are 16 OTBs currently operating in Louisiana.
The Louisiana bill, supported by horsemen's and breeders' organization in the state, now goes to Gov. John Bel Edwards for his signature.
Concerning New Hampshire, Patrick Neely, chief business development officer for Exacta Systems, said: “We are so grateful to our primary bill sponsors, Representative Pat Abrami and Senator Harold French; longtime supporters like Representatives Fred Doucette and Jennie Gomarlo, and of course Governor Sununu for signing the bill into law. Passage of this legislation was truly a group effort, and we were pleased to play a role in a broad coalition of New Hampshire charitable organizations and charitable gaming operators. We have no doubt that HHR will prove to be as successful in New Hampshire as it is in other jurisdictions, and that it will generate significant new tax revenue and financial support for countless New Hampshire charities. Exacta looks forward to playing a role in that future success, and we are excited to announce our expansion plans and partnership agreements in New Hampshire in the coming weeks.”
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