Santa Anita Park has filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Justice (DOJ) after the state seized 26 historical horse racing (HHR) machines from the racetrack, claiming the DOJ had no legal right to confiscate the betting terminals. The machines, which offer parimutuel wagering on previously run horse races through a 3×3 exotic bet format, were approved by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) in 2024 and supported by legal analysis provided to the Attorney General’s office. Santa Anita argues that the machines comply with California’s parimutuel wagering laws and that neither the DOJ nor CHRB raised objections until the seizure.
The DOJ contends that the HHR machines are illegal slot machines disguised to circumvent state gaming laws, which restrict traditional slot machines to tribal casinos, and plans to destroy the seized devices unless a court intervenes within 30 days. Santa Anita’s lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent the destruction and to have the betting games legally recognized. The dispute centers on whether California’s parimutuel wagering law requires bets to be placed only on live or simulcast races, with Santa Anita and legal counsel asserting the law does not mandate live racing for wagers to be lawful.
