With two racetracks now operating instant racing machines full-time, wagering on the electronic gambling devices jumped more than 18 percent in September to almost $21 million.

Kentucky Downs in Franklin, which installed the games in September 2011, reported that a record $18.95 million was wagered. Ellis Park in Henderson, which opened its instant racing room in August, reported $2.04 million wagered.

Betting at both tracks has been climbing, with Kentucky Downs topping $1 million a day on multiple days; on Sept. 30, a record $1.46 million was bet.

Most of the money was returned to bettors in the form of winnings, but the tracks netted a combined $1.35 million in September and paid to the state almost $315,000 in pari-mutuel taxes.

Cumulatively, since instant racing's inception in Kentucky, almost $169 million has been wagered on the outcomes of previously run races. The tracks have received more than $11.4 million and have paid more than $2.5 million in pari-mutuel taxes. Altogether, almost $1.9 million has been contributed to various purses around the state.

Janet Patton: (859) 231-3264. Twitter: janetpattonhl