If you have knowledge about horse racing in Virginia, it is likely that you have come across or utilized historical horse racing machines.
In recent years, the popularity of HHRs has skyrocketed. As Virginia’s gambling industry gears up for an exciting expansion, it’s worth delving into what these games are, how to play them, and other essential details.
What are HHRs?
HHRs provide customers with the excitement of horse race betting without the need to wait for real-time races to begin. These machines allow users to place bets on the results of numerous historical horse races. Details regarding these past races are kept confidential; bettors are unaware of the specific race, location, or participating horses and jockeys.
However, bettors have the ability to perform their own scouting report by analyzing jockey and trainer win percentages, along with horse post positions. Additionally, many games offer the option for the machine to automatically select the order for customers, thus streamlining the process.
Are HHRs connected to horse racing?
Think of HHRs as a slot machine play, not in the literal sense.
In accordance with Virginia law, HHRs are classified as pari-mutuel, similar to conventional live horse racing. Nonetheless, the link between HHRs and horse racing is unrelated to the actual gameplay. Despite being influenced by the outcomes of past horse races, HHRs are specifically designed to mimic the appearance and experience of slot machines.
Brief history of Virginia’s historical horse racing machines
In 2018, Virginia passed a law to legalize Historical Horse Racing (HHR) with the aim of reviving Colonial Downs, the only horse racing track in the state. Following this, a HHR parlor was established at Colonial Downs in 2019.
The Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Hampton, Virginia recently cashed in a HHR jackpot worth $914,530, as reported by lasvegasadvisor.com.
Where can I use HHRs in Virginia?
Residents of Virginia have the opportunity to engage in HHRs across six specific locations, namely Collinsville, Colonial Downs, Dumfries, Hampton, Richmond, and Vinton.
According to Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), there are currently two new HHR facilities being constructed in the state.
Once the new Emporia and Dumfries locations are officially open, Virginia will be equipped with approximately 4,000 HHR terminals.
The Virginia Racing Commission regulates HHRs, but that could change
Similar to real horse racing, the Virginia Racing Commission is responsible for the supervision of HHRs.
The JLARC argues that although the VRC needs more staffing and experience, it has not taken the necessary actions to effectively regulate the large-scale commercial gaming that HHR wagering has become, according to the commission’s October report to the governor and general assembly of Virginia.
The commission is seeking the establishment of a central gaming agency in Virginia to effectively oversee all gaming formats, with a particular emphasis on technology-related aspects.
According to the report, as gaming operations increasingly rely on electronic systems, monitoring and auditing gaming activities are best accomplished through electronic systems. This is particularly true for HHR machines, electronic pull tab machines, and slot machines, as they benefit the most from electronic monitoring and auditing.
Historical horse racing machines remain popular in Virginia
The September data from the report by the Virginia Historical Horse Racing Commission indicates that HHRs are thriving and flourishing in the state.
In that particular month, the total handle from HHRs amounted to approximately $337.8 million. This figure was derived from the combined performance of the six different locations.
- Roughly $116.1 million was recorded as Richmond’s highest handle.
- In September, Hampton recorded a handle of $94.8 million.
In September 2022, there was a significant surge in the handle, surpassing a $20 million increase compared to the previous year. In September 2021, the handle amounted to nearly $316.1 million. However, when comparing September 2022 to September 2020, the growth becomes even more pronounced, as the handle in September 2020 was just over $182.4 million.
According to the JLARC report, the majority of Virginia’s legal wagering growth can be attributed to HHRs. Over the past four years, HHRs have significantly boosted the industry by 54%.
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