KALISPELL, Mont. - February 28, 2011 - The Montana Board of Horse Racing is pushing hard for Senate Bill 16. It allows for deprivatization of simulcast horse racing in Montana. That means big bucks could be staying in Montana instead of heading out of state.

Scotty's Bar in Kalispell is just one of many locations throughout the state where you can bet on horse racing. Those monies used to go to a licensee out of state. He no longer wants the license, so the Montana Board of Horse Racing is asking the government to take it over.

An estimated $.5 million rolled in last year for simulcasting, and if Senate Bill 16 passes it would allow those funds to go towards boosting Montana's horse racing. The state government would receive up to 10% of those dollars, but ultimately the rest would stay in state going towards events like races at county fairs. The bill has already passed through the state senate and awaits the Montana House vote before implementation.