Kentucky court refuses to reissue ruling on historical racing machines

The Kentucky Supreme Court on Thursday declined a request to reconsider an opinion issued last year that invalidated a type of gambling device in use at many racetracks in the state.

The one-paragraph notice shuts the door on a long-shot request from the state’s racetracks and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to reissue the opinion.

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The Supreme Court opinion issued last year required a lower court in the state to reissue its own opinion that said the devices complied with the state’s definition of parimutuel wagering, and, so far, the court has not yet released an updated ruling. As a result, racetracks continue to operate the machines at their casinos.

The racing industry has asked the state legislature to support legislation that would clear up the legality of the devices, which are known as historical horseracing machines. The legislature is not scheduled to reconvene until Feb. 2, and no bill has been produced yet.