Simply days after California law enforcement officials eliminated new playing machines from Santa Anita Park, the Los Angeles Turf Membership (LATC), which operates the racecourse, has filed a writ of mandate in opposition to the California Division of Justice (DOJ).
It was on January 15 when the horse-racing location put in 26 new playing machines, however they had been removed by police officers from the state Division of Justice shortly after.
Unsurprisingly, Santa Anita has filed swimsuit in opposition to Rob Bonta's workplace for what it claims was an unconstitutional seizure of 26 HHR machines https://t.co/KRLlmkgiEn
— Jessica Welman (@jesswelman) January 21, 2026
This was reported to be as a result of machines being thought-about to be in breach of California’s exclusive tribal gaming rights laws. The raid is described, nevertheless, inside the submitting, to have taken place “with out warning or a warrant” on January 17, 2026.
Within the lawsuit, which has been seen by ReadWrite, the LATC states they’re searching for the return of the self-service tote terminals which had been seized by the DOJ. They’re additionally searching for a declaration prohibiting DOJ, or every other state company, from inflicting the destruction of these terminals.
Los Angeles Turf Membership, which operates Santa Anita Park, is searching for return of self-service betting machines
The 52-page submitting begins by alleging the respondents “unlawfully seized tools belonging to Petitioner, which operates Santa Anita Park.”
It continues to say: “This Petition is necessitated by Respondents’ wrongful conduct and their refusal, each earlier than the raid and within the days since, to supply any authorized foundation or clarification for his or her warrantless seizure of Petitioner’s property, which Respondents have threatened to destroy.”
Santa Anita Park has been a site of horse racing since 1934 and the lawsuit suggests thoroughbred horse racing within the State of California generates round $1.7 billion in annual financial influence for native communities, with 26,000 jobs additionally supported.
In keeping with the petitioner within the submitting, the self-service tote terminals supplied a 3 x 3 wager on concluded thorough bred horse races, with these permitting for patrons to view handicapping data prior to creating a wager. They counsel the rollout of the terminals adopted a prolonged interval of dialogue between numerous California authorities companies.
In addition they allege they haven’t acquired any assertion of the DOJ’s place aside from a type discover supplied to Santa Anita Park workers on the conclusion of the DOJ’s seizure.
With the laws lately being filed, all eyes will now be on the California Division of Justice to make the following transfer.
Featured Picture: Credit score to Lisa Andres on Wikimedia Commons, CC 2.0
The publish Santa Anita Park sues California Department of Justice over alleged warrantless seizure appeared first on ReadWrite.
