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Who cares
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Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Substituted by A6255
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.325
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provides for the issuance of free and reduced fee passes, cards and badges for horse racetracks, as deemed appropriate by the operator
Signed by Governor · Sponsor J. Gary Pretlow
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S3828
Title of bill
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to free and reduced fee passes, cards and badges
Purpose
The purpose of this bill authorize and encourage racetracks to conduct promotional campaigns to increase attendance at New York's thoroughbred and harness race tracks. This is being done by authorizing such race tracks to expand the number of persons that are qualified to obtain a free or reduced fee pass, card or badge to enter a race track, at the discretion of such track. Giving racetracks more latitude to develop and implement promotional campaigns geared to the general public may help such tracks to increase attendance at such facilities.
Read the full memo (632 words)
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends Racing & Wagering Law section 243 to expand the number of persons that are qualified to obtain a free or reduced fee 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 or as part of promotional campaign open to the general public or a segment of the general public.
Section 2: Amends Racing & Wagering Law section 324 to expand the number of persons that are qualified to obtain a free or reduced fee 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 or reduced fee 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 3: Amends Racing & wagering Law section 422 to expand the number of persons that are qualified to obtain a free or reduced fee 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 or reduced fee passes may be issued to the general public to increase public participation at such quarter horse events.
Section 4: Effective date.
Existing law
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
Under current law, horse owners and racing industry regulators may obtain free passes to enter into a racetrack, however members of the horse owner's family and friends are precluded from receiving such passes. Attendance at horse racing events has been in a steady decline for the past thirty years. This had lead to reduced betting handle for the racetrack and a less than exciting experience for the racing fan. This is an outdated law that needs to be revised.
This measure will allow horse race track operators to issue more free or reduced fee 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
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
This bill should increase attendance at live horse racing events, consequently, it may increase the betting handle and the taxes collected on such handle.
Local fiscal implications
Encouraging more attendance at live horse racing events and the profits generated by such events will enhance a racing facility's ability to pay local property and use taxes.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.