This post was updated April 7, 2015
The Idaho Senate has failed to override Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's veto on legislation that would have made roughly 250 slot-like betting machines in Idaho illegal,
However, senators passed three letters questioning the legality of Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's notification actions.
The Senate voted 19-16 on Monday, just five votes shy of the required two-thirds support needed to flip a veto in a chamber.
Otter waited nearly three days to reveal his verdict, even though the deadline to sign the legislation was on April 4.
But Otter did put a moratorium on any new instant racing machines in the state. The governor also asked the Idaho Legislature to join him in appointing a special investigator to assess the legality of the machines that are currently in use.
This original story was posted April 6, 2015
Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter has vetoed legislation that would have made roughly 250 slot-like betting machines in Idaho illegal.
But Otter did put a moratorium on any new instant racing machines in the state. The governor also asked the Legislature to join him in appointing a special investigator to assess the legality of the machines that are currently in use.
Known as instant horse racing, the machines allow bettors to place wages on prior horse races with no identifiable information.
However, backers of the bill said that the machines are essentially slot machines, which are illegal under Idaho's Constitution.
The Idaho Legislature now may vote on whether to override the veto.