Two days after their quiet introduction at Santa Anita, the Racing on Demand slot machine-style parimutuel games—similar to Historic Horse Racing—were removed by Department of Justice law enforcement officers. The 26 machines, which allowed $1 bets on the first three finishers of past six-horse races, had been installed to boost Santa Anita’s purse funds, which lag behind other states benefiting from supplemental revenue sources like Historic Horse Racing machines. The legality of these machines was questioned due to the lack of explicit approval from Tribal entities in California, who control non-pari-mutuel wagering.

Despite the removal, Los Angeles Turf Club senior vice-president Scott Daruty defended the machines’ legality, stating they operated under California’s pari-mutuel wagering laws and that the Attorney General’s office had previously reviewed their legal analysis without objection. The specific trigger for the enforcement action remains unclear, but powerful Tribal groups had publicly opposed the machines, claiming they violated the tribal gambling compact and promised a strong response. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between racetracks seeking new revenue streams and Tribal authorities protecting their gambling rights.