Federal Appeals Court Sides With TwinSpires in ADW Case

The United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with TwinSpires in a legal dispute over whether the state of Michigan could regulate online horse race wagering with rules in conflict with the Interstate Horseracing Act. The ruling affirmed a federal district court preliminary injunction against the Michigan Gaming Control Board from enforcing a state law prohibiting advance-deposit wagering hub TwinSpires from accepting wagers in Michigan on races outside the state. According to court records TwinSpires started accepting wagers from Michigan in the early 2010s. After the Michigan Horse Racing Law was amended in 2019, TwinSpires entered a contract with the only track operating in Michigan, Northville Downs, to comply with new licensing requirements. A legal issue arose after Northville Downs temporarily lost its license while it relocated its track. With no tracks holding a license, TwinSpires could not partner with one and could not comply with the 2019 amendment to Michigan law. TwinSpires continued accepting wagers, leading Michigan to issue a Jan. 7 suspension order against TwinSpires that was kept in place even after Northville Downs regained its license Jan. 31. READ: Federal Judge Rules ADWs Can Accept Bets From Michigan Both the federal district court and the appellate court found the 1978 Interstate Horseracing Act provides "the exclusive procedure" for interstate off-track wagers; that Michigan's attempt to require "an additional licensing" would likely be found unlawful as a result; and that TwinSpires would incur irreparable injury unless the preliminary injunction against the Michigan Gaming Control Board was upheld.