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Who cares
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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
- Print number 3286a
- Amend (t) and recommit to racing, gaming and wagering
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to rebates and free passes
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to stimulate attendance and handle at racing facilities and off track betting facilities throughout New York and clearly authorize in the law the ability of host racetracks, simulcast racetracks, and regional off-track betting corporations (OTBs) to offer rebate benefits to preferred customers and to volume bettors. Under current law, there are no standards for establishing such rebate programs. This bill creates a statutory framework in which to establish such rebate programs while simultaneously expanding the number of persons that are qualified to obtain a free pass, card or badge to enter a race track to include the general public so that race tracks can implement promotional campaigns to increase attendance at race tracks.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Adds Racing & wagering Law section 113 to clearly establish in the law the ability of host racetracks and OTBs to establish rebate programs for new or preferred customers. The definition of a rebate is a reduction in the takeout percentage, adding a bonus on winnings obtained, or awards of merchandise or services for certain previously designated customers. The Racing & Wagering Board must annually approve of the rebate programs.
Read the full memo (755 words)
There are conditions to approving rebate programs. The conditions are that: a disclosure of benefits of past rebate programs is required, rebates are granted solely on the amount wagered or the frequency of betting, accurate record keeping is maintained on rebate program disbursements, and the rebate programs are in the best interests of racing.
Section 2: Amends Racing & Wagering Law section 243 to expand the number of persons that are qualified to obtain a free pass, card or badge to enter a thoroughbred race track to include any other person or guest that is deemed appropriate by the operator of such thoroughbred race track.
Section 3: Amends Racing & Wagering Law section 324 to expand the number of persons that are qualified to obtain a free pass, card or badge to enter a harness race track to include any other person or guest that is deemed appropriate by the operator of such harness race track. In addition, free passes may be issued to the general public in connection with any track sponsored promotional campaign or marketing program to increase live race attendance.
Section 4: Amends Racing & Wagering Law section 422 to expand the number of persons that are qualified to obtain a free pass, card or badge to enter a quarter horse race track to include any other person or guest that is deemed appropriate by the operator of such quarter horse race track. Also, free passes may be issued to the general public to increase public participation at such quarter horse events.
Section 5: Effective date.
Existing law
There is currently no statutory framework to assist a racetrack or OTB to develop and implement a rebate program. Furthermore, under current law, only a select group of public officers and employees engaged in the regulation of racing events and employees of the racing industry that are conducting race meets are allowed to be awarded free passes, cards or badges to enter a horse race track.
Justification
Certain off-shore and out of state betting houses are offering rebate programs for their racing events. These rebate programs may be one reason why increases in New York State betting handle has been depressed. This bill merely authorizes New York racetrack operators and OTBs to offer their patrons the same types of rebate programs that are being offered elsewhere.
Restriction of free passes is an outdated law in need of revision. Under current law, horse owners may obtain free passes, however members of the horse owner's family are precluded from receiving such passes. In addition, attendance at horse racing events has generally been in decline for the past thirty years. This measure will allow horse race track operators to issue more free passes to promote attendance of individuals at live horse racing events. Allowing the issuance of more free passes will not only increase attendance and the excitement of those horse racing events, it may encourage an increase in betting handle at such racing facilities and the patronage of restaurants located at such tracks.
Legislative history
S.6925 of 2005/2006
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The January next succeeding the date it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.