DALLAS, TX—SEPTEMBER 29, 2014—According to an article published in the Dallas Morning News on Sunday Texas racetracks are not in hurry to install new historical racing machines. The machines that become legal this week are expected to raise a desperately needed infusion of capital into the Texas horse racing industry.

Even with a tentative go-ahead from state regulators, it’s not certain when or if any historic racing terminals will make it to Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie or other Texas tracks. They face a state application process, a vote by the Texas Racing Commission, manufacturing lead times for the machines and an ongoing lawsuit.

John Elliott, CEO of Global Gaming Solutions, the owner of Lone Star Park, said plans to add the Instant Racing machines are not on a fast track.

“As a matter of law, Lone Star Park is not going to move forward on this until it is clear,” Elliott said. “There are a lot of unknowns. … And we hope obviously that the Texas Racing Commission ultimately prevails so that some much-needed help can be provided to the Texas horsemen.”

Proceeds from the machines could be used to boost racing purses and attract better competition. That brings more bettors and horses and boosts the state’s equestrian industry, Elliott said.

Each track has to apply for permission to install the machines, which resemble slot machines and replay old horse races with all identifying information removed. Part of the legal debate involves whether these allow for pari-mutuel wagering on old races or whether they are essentially horse-themed slot machines. The earliest the racing commission would meet and potentially vote on tracks’ requests to install the machines is mid-October.

By then, opponents who are suing hope to have enough time to obtain a court order blocking the machines.

Officials with the racing commission declined to comment about the Historical Racing machines while there is litigation. In previous written arguments in favor, the agency told critics that no specific machines had been approved and that they would have to comply with state requirements.

“It is the substance and operation of the terminals, rather than their outward appearance, that determines whether they are legal in Texas,” the statement said. “Because the wagering authorized will be ‘pari-mutuel wagering in connection with horse or greyhound races,’ it does not violate the Penal Code prohibitions.”

Despite all the possible roadblocks, officials at Gulf Coast Racing in Corpus Christi are going forward with plans to add Historical Racing machines. General manager Steve Lamb said the greyhound track is already working with an architect to provide drawings of the machines’ locations to the racing commission. The agency requires tracks to provide them with details about the numbers, types and locations of the machines.

“We’ve either got to go forward or decide not to go at all,” Lamb said. “There are definite concerns. We realize that we could put them in here and be stopped the next day.”