§3004 Regulation of interstate off-track wagering

Summary

Off-track betting from another State can only happen if certain people and agencies agree. The host racing association, the host racing commission, and the off-track racing commission must give permission. The host racing association usually must have a written deal with the horsemen’s group that lets it give that permission. A not-for-profit association in a State where off-track money rules are set by law is an exception. If a contract already existed when this law was made, its terms apply to interstate bets and no new paper may be needed unless the parties agree. Existing written consents that cover interstate betting continue until the old contract ends, and after that the horsemen’s written agreement is required and can only be changed through the normal contract process. An off-track betting office must also get OK from every operating track within 60 miles, or if there are none, the nearest operating track in a neighboring State. But in States with at least 250 days of on-track parimutuel racing a year, an office may take interstate bets for up to 60 racing days and 25 special events each year without those local approvals, if no same-type racing is happening at the same time within 60 miles or the local racing cannot be completed. Dark days during a regular meeting may be excluded. The office must offer the same deal to any nearby racing association. Finally, the takeout (the fee taken from the bet pool) for interstate wagers cannot be higher than the takeout for similar local off-track bets unless the off-track State law allows a higher takeout.