Horse race betting scratched in Jackson

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Teton County Commissioners shot down 307 Horse Racing and its bid to turn Hole Bowl into the first para-mutuel betting parlor in Teton County.

The return of chair Natalia Macker was 307’s downfall as the vote went 2-3 with commissioners Mark Barron and Greg Epstein in favor; Macker joined Luther Propst and Mark Newcomb in denying a resolution that would make wagering at the former Hole Bowl facility a reality.

307’s Kyle Ridgway anticipated the biggest hurdle for commissioners: an approval would be a precedent-setting land rush for other betting parlor operators to get a foot in the door to the money hanging from trees in the hoitiest-toitiest county in the state.

“We truly believe in local control,” Ridgway said, explaining that the resolution was a very particular one-off pertaining only to them and only to the Hole Bowl location.

Supporters say this would probably be the only way to save bowling in Teton County as no one else would likely find a way to make kegling pay the bills unless parents could be fleeced at the virtual track while their kids rolled gutter balls and dropped quarters into the air hockey game.

“Seventy-five to 80% of the facility stays the way it was,” Ridgway assured the board. “Where the two private bowling alleys are now, we put in gaming terminals and wagering activity.”

Ridgway said he was also okay with limiting hours of operation to midnight instead of 2am.

How they voted

Businessmen Barron and Epstein understood the challenges of paying rent and making payroll in Jackson Hole. They didn’t need much convincing that 307’s proposal was a way to keep the alleys waxed.

“It’s not lost on me that background checks on employees they will be lucky to get are not done on any other alcohol retail sales position in this county,” Barron said. “I also want to point out I am a strong supporter of bowling facilities. I’m supporting this thing all the way as long as they keep the bowling component.”

Epstein also wanted to see the 80% of kid-oriented activity Hole Bowl was known for remain.

“Not all 8-year-olds have the means to go backcountry skiing. Bowling is a great family activity. I feel like we have assurance they are going to abide by the values of our community and they are just bringing another aspect—something that is, frankly, legal in Wyoming,” Epstein said. “It’s obvious we are afraid of change. We are going to use fear to talk about a worst-case scenario. There is never going to be another bowling alley in this community. When this one goes away because we have chosen not to support another revenue stream, then that 8-year-old that can’t go backcountry skiing; what else are they going to do?”

Macker worried about the precedence of allowing 307 in. It will bring more operators and applicants, and it won’t be fair to tell them no if they don’t have a bowling alley, she worried.

“I, too, would like to see bowling back. I think we will see requests from other operators,” Macker said. “This has the potential to mark a shift in the community.”

Propst mentioned how Jackson is a “unique community, with a unique economy and unique pressures.”

“We’ve heard concerns from the neighbors and the sheriff. We also recently just had this survey about tourism that shows the community is quite anxious about the level of activity,” Propst said. “But mostly I am concerned about the precedent for gaming in Teton County. This takes us away from our strong suit that is nature-based tourism.”

Once the vote was taken, Barron bolted from his chair. He and Epstein immediately asked for a 15-minute recess so they could, presumably, go apologize to 307 for their colleagues’ vote.