What's happening
This bill allows Suffolk off-track betting corporations to operate up to 3,000 video lottery terminals and adjusts related tax provisions.
Why it matters
Significantly increases potential gambling activity in Suffolk County. by tripling the cap on video lottery terminals (VLTs) from 1,000 to 3,000, which could attract more visitors, increase local spending, and potentially raise concerns about problem gambling.
Creates a new revenue stream for Suffolk County. , as all vendor fees from the new VLT operations must be paid directly to the county, potentially supporting local government services or offsetting budget gaps.
Alters the competitive landscape among regional gaming operators. , making Suffolk OTB more competitive relative to Nassau OTB and other gaming venues, which could shift where people choose to gamble and impact regional economic dynamics.
May influence broader state gaming policy. by setting a precedent for expanding gambling operations and revising tax and fee structures, which could lead to similar requests from other regions or stakeholders in the future.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow More Betting Machines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
- Referred to rules
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6487
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 13, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GAUGHRAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law and the tax law, in relation to allowing Suffolk off-track betting corporations to host video lottery gaming devices
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 503 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10-a to read as follows:
10-a. In the Suffolk regions, to install and operate up to three thousand video lottery gaming terminals at a corporation's facility which is licensed pursuant to section one thousand eight or one thousand nine of this chapter;
§ 2. The opening paragraph of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph 1 of subdivision b of section 1612 of the tax law, as added by section 1 of part EE of chapter 59 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
(ii) less a vendor's fee the amount of which is to be paid for serving as a lottery agent to the track operator of a vendor track or the operator of any other video lottery gaming facility authorized pursuant to section sixteen hundred seventeen-a of this article; and less vendor's fees to be paid for serving as a lottery agent to the Suffolk regional off-track betting corporations operators at authorized participating off-track betting facilities licensed pursuant to either section one thousand eight or one thousand nine of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, which fees shall be aggregated and paid in equal amounts to the county of Suffolk. The amount of the vendor's fee shall be calculated as follows:
§ 3. Paragraph 3 of subdivision a of section 1617-a of the tax law, as added by section 1 of part SS of chapter 60 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13300-01-9
S. 6487 2
(3) a maximum of two facilities, which shall be vendors for all purposes under this article[, neither to exceed one thousand video lottery gaming devices,] established within region three of zone one as defined by section one thousand three hundred ten of the racing, parimutuel wagering and breeding law, one each operated by a corporation established pursuant to section five hundred two of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law in the Suffolk region and the Nassau region to be located within a facility authorized pursuant to sections one thousand eight or one thousand nine of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, provided however, that in the Nassau region such facility shall not exceed one thousand video lottery gaming devices and in the Suffolk region such facility shall not exceed three thousand video lottery gaming devices; and
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law and the tax law, in relation to allowing Suffolk off-track betting corporations to host video lottery gaming devices
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to allow the Suffolk regional off- track betting corporation to install and operate up to 3,000 video lottery gaming terminals.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends Section 503 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law by adding a new subdivision 10-a.
Section 2: Amends subparagraph (ii) of paragraph 1 of subdivision b of section 1612 of the tax law, as added by section 1 of part EE of chapter 59 of the laws of 2019.
Section 3: Amends paragraph 3 of subdivision a of section 1617-a of the tax law, as added by section 1 of part SS of chapter 60 of the laws of 2016.
Section 4: Sets the effective date.
Justification
Under current New York State law, the Suffolk off-track betting corpo- ration (OTB) is only permitted to install and operate up to 1,000 video lottery gaming devices. The facility housing these devices has one of the highest Win Per Unit (WPU) rates in both New York State and the country, generating upwards of $100,000,000 in funding for State educa- tion. This bill would give Suffolk OTB the ability to install and oper- ate up to 3,000 video lottery gaming devices, which estimates show could possibly generate over twice as much funding for State education while also providing Suffolk County with an additional $15,000,000 to $20,000,000 in much needed recurring annual revenue.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
No cost to the state. However, it is estimated that this act would generate millions of dollars in revenue for both Suffolk County and the state.
Effective date
The act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which 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.