Sponsored by:
Senator PAUL A. SARLO
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Senator JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Provides for automatic renewal of off-track wagering licenses; modifies certain operating requirements for simulcasting facilities; reduces minimum number of annual thoroughbred races from 50 to 25.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning horse racing in this State and off-track wagering licenses and facility operations, and amending P.L.2001, c.199 and P.L.2006, c.19.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2006, c.19 (C.5:5-22.2) is amended to read as follows:
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the New Jersey Racing Commission, in effectuating its responsibilities under P.L.1940, c.17 (C.5:5-22 et seq.), the "Simulcasting Racing Act," P.L.1985, c.269 (C.5:5-110 et seq.), the "Off-Track and Account Wagering Act," P.L.2001, c.199 (C.5:5-127 et seq.), and the "Casino Simulcasting Act," P.L.1992, c.19 (C.5:12-191 et seq.), and under such circumstances and for such races as the commission shall deem appropriate, shall:
a. at the request of a permitholder, allow a permitholder to offer a future wager consisting of wagering on prospective entrants for specific races, with wagering conducted in advance, one or more parimutuel pools formed and closed on dates prior to the date of the race, and all wagers considered final and no refunds paid even if, for any reason, an entrant fails to participate in the race;
b. provide that the minimum wager amount that may be placed on a horse race may be $0.10 or greater;
c. provide that, after [three years] one year following the date of purchase, unclaimed cash vouchers shall be paid 50% to the permitholder at the location where purchased and 50% to the purse account at the location where purchased, provided that if the permitholder conducts both harness and thoroughbred races the purse amount shall be divided equally between the harness and thoroughbred purse accounts;
d. at the request of a permitholder or the operator of a casino simulcasting facility, allow the permitholder or the operator of a casino simulcasting facility, whenever the permitholder or casino simulcasting facility is open to the public for wagering, to accept a wager in advance of a race or races at an in-State or out-of-State sending track under a simulcast agreement without receiving a simulcast transmission thereof or displaying live video of all races from an in-State or out-of-State sending track thereof [when: (1) the race is to be conducted between the hours of 11:00 PM and 11:00 AM local New Jersey time, or at such other times as the commission shall permit due to extenuating circumstances; or (2) at other times, as the commission shall permit, when a racetrack, off-track wagering facility, or casino simulcasting facility is temporarily closed due to the hosting of an event at that facility that warrants the closure of that facility for a period not to exceed 24 hours, provided that a simulcast transmission of that race is received and displayed under a simulcast transmission agreement at any other racetrack, off-track wagering facility, or casino simulcasting facility in this State]; and
e. allow a permitholder to pay an amount due a winning ticketholder, notwithstanding that the ticketholder is unable to produce the actual ticket, if the permitholder is able to verify independently through electronic or other means approved by the commission that the ticketholder purchased the ticket.
(cf: P.L.2011, c.48, s.1)
2. Section 3 of P.L.2001, c.199 (C.5:5-129) is amended to read as follows:
3. As used in this act:
"Account holder" means a resident of this State over age 18 who establishes an account pursuant to this act through which account wagers are placed.
"Account wagering" means a form of parimutuel wagering in which an account holder may deposit money in an account with the account wagering licensee and then use the account balance to pay for parimutuel wagers by the account holder.
"Account wagering licensee" means the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority or its assignee, provided that the commission has granted its approval for the authority to establish an account wagering system as provided for in this act.
"Account wagering system" means the system through which account wagers are processed by the account wagering licensee pursuant to this act.
["Applicant" means the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority or another entity that submits an application to the commission for a license to establish and conduct an off-track wagering facility pursuant to this act.]
"Authority" means the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority created by section 4 of P.L.1971, c.137 (C.5:10-4).
"Backstretch Benevolency" means the Backstretch Benevolency Programs Fund established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1993, c.15 (C.5:5-44.8).
"Breeders and Stallions" means the distribution from the special trust account created pursuant to section 46 a. (2) of P.L.1940, c.17 (C.5:5-66) for the purposes of subparagraph (c) of that citation.
"Breeding and Development" means the New Jersey Horse Breeding and Development Account established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1967, c.40 (C.5:5-88).
"Commission" means the New Jersey Racing Commission created by section 1 of P.L.1940, c.17 (C.5:5-22).
"Executive Director" means the Executive Director of the commission.
"Health and Welfare" means moneys distributed to the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association for the administration of a health benefits program pursuant to section 46 a. (5) of P.L.1940, c.17 (C.5:5-66).
"In-State host track" means a racetrack within this State which is operated by a permit holder which conducts a horse race upon which account wagers are placed pursuant to this act.
"In-State sending track" means a racetrack within this State which is operated by a permit holder and is equipped to conduct off-track simulcasting.
"In-State track" means an in-State host track or an in-State sending track.
"Interstate common pool" means the parimutuel pool established within this State or in another state or foreign nation within which is combined parimutuel pools of one or more receiving tracks located in one or more states or foreign nations upon a race at an out-of-State sending track or out-of-State host track for the purpose of establishing payoff prices in the various jurisdictions.
"Jockey's Health and Welfare" means a health and welfare trust established by the organization certified by the New Jersey Racing Commission as representing a majority of the active licensed thoroughbred jockeys in New Jersey for the purpose of providing health and welfare benefits to active, disabled and retired New Jersey jockeys and their dependents based upon reasonable criteria by that organization.
"New Jersey Racing Industry Special Fund" means the fund established pursuant to section 27 of this act.
"New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association" means the association representing the majority of New Jersey thoroughbred owners and trainers responsible for receiving and distributing funds for programs designed to aid thoroughbred horsemen.
"Off-track simulcasting" means the simultaneous audio or