BILL NUMBER: S6969
SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to operating historical horse racing products
 
PURPOSE:
To allow historical horse racing pari-mutuel devices at licensed harness
and thoroughbred racetracks and off-track betting corporations.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 - Allows historical horse racing pari-mutuel devices at
licensed harness and thoroughbred racetracks and off-track betting
corporations.
Section 2 - Provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Historical Horse Racing (HHR) is a popular electronic pari-mutuel wager-
ing game currently authorized and operating in twelve states. Specif-
ically, HHR allows players to place pari-mutuel wagers on replays of
anonymous and randomly selected thoroughbred and harness horse races
that have previously been run.
In general, game play begins when a player deposits a wager, and a race
is randomly selected from a video library of over thousands of previous
races. The identifying information such as the location and date of the
race, and the names of the horses and jockeys, is not shown. The player
can view basic handicapping information by showing information such as
the anonymous jockeys' and trainers' winning percentages in the past.
Based on this handicapping information, the player picks the projected
order of finish. Payouts are based on traditional pari-mutuel wagering
distributions that are statutory driven.
This bill will enhance the pari-tnutuel wagering options offered to
consumers by all entities that allow parimutuel wagering at licensed
facilities in New York. In the states HHR is authorized, it is a proven
revenue generator and should be viewed as the next stages of parimutuel
wagering in New York. HHR machines have significantly bolstered gaming
revenues in several states, including Kentucky, Wyoming, Virginia, and
New Hampshire. These states have proven that there is significant reven-
ue-generating potential of HHR machines.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
N/A
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This bill will have a positive increase in revenue for pari-mutuel
wagering.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.