Chapter 550 — Chapter 550
74 sections in this chapter.
Fla. Stat. § 550.001 Short title
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This chapter may be cited as the “Florida Pari-mutuel Wagering Act.”
Fla. Stat. § 550.002 Definitions
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As used in this chapter, the term:(1) “Breaks” means the portion of a pari-mutuel pool which is computed by rounding down to the nearest multiple of 10 cents and is not distributed to the contributors or withheld by the permitholder as takeout.(2) “Breeders’ and stallions’ awards…
Fla. Stat. § 550.0115 Permitholder operating license
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After a permit has been issued by the commission, and after the permit has been approved by election, the commission shall issue to the permitholder an annual operating license to conduct pari-mutuel wagering at the location specified in the permit pursuant to the provisions of t…
Fla. Stat. § 550.01215 License application; periods of operation; license fees; bond
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(1) Each permitholder shall annually, during the period between January 15 and February 4, file in writing with the commission its application for an operating license for a pari-mutuel facility for the conduct of pari-mutuel wagering during the next state fiscal year, including …
Fla. Stat. § 550.0235 Limitation of civil liability
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No permitholder licensed to conduct pari-mutuel wagering pursuant to the provisions of this chapter; no commissioner or employee of the commission; and no steward, judge, or other person appointed to act pursuant to this chapter shall be held liable to any person, partnership, as…
Fla. Stat. § 550.0251 Powers and duties of the Florida Gaming Control Commission
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The commission shall administer this chapter and regulate the pari-mutuel industry under this chapter and the rules adopted pursuant thereto, and:(1) The commission shall make an annual report to the Governor showing its own actions, receipts derived under the provisions of this …
Fla. Stat. § 550.0351 Charity days
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(1) The commission shall, upon the request of a permitholder, authorize each horseracing permitholder and jai alai permitholder up to five charity or scholarship days in addition to the regular days authorized by law.(2) The proceeds of charity performances shall be paid to quali…
Fla. Stat. § 550.0425 Minors attendance at pari-mutuel performances; restrictions
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(1) A minor, when accompanied by one or both parents or by her or his legal guardian, may attend pari-mutuel performances, under the conditions and at the times specified by each permitholder conducting the pari-mutuel performance.(2) A person under the age of 18 may not place a …
Fla. Stat. § 550.054 Application for permit to conduct pari-mutuel wagering
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(1) Any person who possesses the qualifications prescribed in this chapter may apply to the commission for a permit to conduct pari-mutuel operations under this chapter. Applications for a pari-mutuel permit are exempt from the 90-day licensing requirement of s. 120.60. Within 12…
Fla. Stat. § 550.0555 Greyhound dogracing permits; relocation within a county; conditions
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(1) It is the finding of the Legislature that pari-mutuel wagering on greyhound dogracing provides substantial revenues to the state. It is the further finding that, in some cases, this revenue-producing ability is hindered due to the lack of provisions allowing the relocation of…
Fla. Stat. § 550.0651 Elections for ratification of permits; municipal prohibitions
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(1) The holder of any permit may have submitted to the electors of the county designated therein the question whether or not such permit will be ratified or rejected. Such questions shall be submitted to the electors for approval or rejection at a special election to be called fo…
Fla. Stat. § 550.0745 Summer jai alai permit periods of operation
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A permitholder issued a permit under former subsection (1) of this section, Florida Statutes 2020, for the operation of a jai alai fronton during the summer season may conduct pari-mutuel wagering throughout the year.
Fla. Stat. § 550.0951 Payment of daily license fee and taxes; penalties
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(1) DAILY LICENSE FEE.—(a) Each person engaged in the business of conducting race meetings or jai alai games under this chapter, hereinafter referred to as the “permitholder,” “licensee,” or “permittee,” shall pay to the commission, for the use of the commission, a daily license …
Fla. Stat. § 550.09511 Jai alai taxes; abandoned interest in a permit for nonpayment of taxes
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(1)(a) Pari-mutuel wagering at jai alai frontons in this state is an important business enterprise, and taxes derived therefrom constitute a part of the tax structure which funds operations of the state. Jai alai permitholders should pay their fair share of these taxes to the sta…
Fla. Stat. § 550.09512 Harness horse taxes; abandoned interest in a permit for nonpayment of taxes
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(1) Pari-mutuel wagering at harness horse racetracks in this state is an important business enterprise, and taxes derived therefrom constitute a part of the tax structure which funds operation of the state. Harness horse permitholders should pay their fair share of these taxes to…
Fla. Stat. § 550.09514 Greyhound dogracing taxes; purse requirements
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(1) Wagering on greyhound racing is subject to a tax on handle for live greyhound racing as specified in s. 550.0951(3). However, each permitholder shall pay no tax on handle until such time as this subsection has resulted in a tax savings per state fiscal year of $360,000. There…
Fla. Stat. § 550.09515 Thoroughbred horse taxes; abandoned interest in a permit for nonpayment of taxes
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(1) Pari-mutuel wagering at thoroughbred horse racetracks in this state is an important business enterprise, and taxes derived therefrom constitute a part of the tax structure which funds operation of the state. Thoroughbred horse permitholders should pay their fair share of thes…
Fla. Stat. § 550.09516 Credit for eligible permitholders conducting thoroughbred racing
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(1) Beginning July 1, 2023, each permitholder authorized to conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of thoroughbred racing under this chapter is eligible for a credit equal to the amount paid by the permitholder in the prior state fiscal year to the federal Horseracing Integrity and S…
Fla. Stat. § 550.105 Occupational licenses of racetrack employees; fees; denial, suspension, and revocation of license; penalties and fines
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(1) Each person connected with a racetrack or jai alai fronton, as specified in paragraph (2)(a), shall purchase from the commission an occupational license. All moneys collected pursuant to this section each fiscal year shall be deposited into the Pari-mutuel Wagering Trust Fund…
Fla. Stat. § 550.1155 Authority of stewards, judges, panel of judges, or player’s manager to impose penalties against occupational licensees; disposition of funds collected
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(1) The stewards at a horse racetrack or the judges, a panel of judges, or a player’s manager at a jai alai fronton may impose a civil penalty against any occupational licensee for violation of the pari-mutuel laws or any rule adopted by the commission. The penalty may not exceed…
Fla. Stat. § 550.125 Uniform reporting system; bond requirement
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(1) The Legislature finds that a uniform reporting system should be developed to provide acceptable uniform financial data and statistics.(2)(a) Each permitholder issued an operating license under this chapter shall keep records that clearly show the total amount of money contrib…
Fla. Stat. § 550.135 Division of moneys derived under this law
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All moneys that are deposited with the Chief Financial Officer to the credit of the Pari-mutuel Wagering Trust Fund shall be distributed as follows:(1) The daily license fee revenues collected pursuant to s. 550.0951(1) shall be used to fund the operating cost of the commission; …
Fla. Stat. § 550.155 Pari-mutuel pool within track enclosure; takeouts; breaks; penalty for purchasing part of a pari-mutuel pool for or through another in specified circumstances
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(1) Wagering on the results of a horserace, dograce, or on the scores or points of a jai alai game and the sale of tickets or other evidences showing an interest in or a contribution to a pari-mutuel pool are allowed within the enclosure of any pari-mutuel facility licensed and c…
Fla. Stat. § 550.1625 Dogracing; taxes
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(1) The operation of a dog track and legalized pari-mutuel betting at dog tracks in this state is a privilege and is an operation that requires strict supervision and regulation in the best interests of the state. Pari-mutuel wagering at dog tracks in this state is a substantial …
Fla. Stat. § 550.1645 Escheat to state of abandoned interest in or contribution to pari-mutuel pools
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(1) It is the public policy of the state, while protecting the interest of the owners, to possess all unclaimed and abandoned interest in or contribution to certain pari-mutuel pools conducted in this state under this chapter, for the benefit of all the people of the state; and t…
Fla. Stat. § 550.1646 Credit for unclaimed property remitted to state
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All money or other property represented by any unclaimed, uncashed, or abandoned pari-mutuel ticket that has remained in the custody of or under the control of any permitholder authorized to conduct jai alai pari-mutuel pools in this state for a period of 1 year after the date th…
Fla. Stat. § 550.1647 Greyhound permitholders; unclaimed tickets; breaks
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All money or other property represented by any unclaimed, uncashed, or abandoned pari-mutuel ticket which has remained in the custody of or under the control of any greyhound permitholder authorized to conduct pari-mutuel wagering in this state for a period of 1 year after the da…
Fla. Stat. § 550.175 Petition for election to revoke permit
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Upon petition of 20 percent of the qualified electors of any county wherein any pari-mutuel wagering has been licensed and conducted under this chapter, the county commissioners of such county shall provide for the submission to the electors of such county at the then next succee…
Fla. Stat. § 550.1815 Certain persons prohibited from holding racing or jai alai permits; suspension and revocation
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(1) A corporation, general or limited partnership, sole proprietorship, business trust, joint venture, or unincorporated association, or other business entity may not hold any horseracing or greyhound permit or jai alai fronton permit in this state if any one of the persons or en…
Fla. Stat. § 550.235 Conniving to prearrange result of race or jai alai game; using medication or drugs on horse or dog; penalty
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(1) Any person who influences, or has any understanding or connivance with, any owner, jockey, groom, or other person associated with or interested in any stable, kennel, horserace, dograce, or jai alai game, in which any horse, dog, or jai alai player participates, to prearrange…
Fla. Stat. § 550.24055 Use of controlled substances or alcohol prohibited; testing of certain occupational licensees; penalty; evidence of test or action taken and admissibility for criminal prosecution limited
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(1) The use of a controlled substance as defined in chapter 893 or of alcohol by any occupational licensees officiating at or participating in a race or jai alai game is prohibited.(2) The occupational licensees, by applying for and holding such licenses, are deemed to have given…
Fla. Stat. § 550.2415 Racing of animals under certain conditions prohibited; penalties; exceptions
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(1)(a) The racing of an animal that has been impermissibly medicated or determined to have a prohibited substance present is prohibited. It is a violation of this section for a person to impermissibly medicate an animal or for an animal to have a prohibited substance present resu…
Fla. Stat. § 550.255 Penalty for conducting unauthorized race meeting
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Every race meeting at which racing is conducted for any stake, purse, prize, or premium, except as allowed by this chapter, is prohibited and declared to be a public nuisance, and every person acting or aiding therein or conducting, or attempting to conduct, racing in this state …
Fla. Stat. § 550.2614 Distribution of certain funds to a horsemen’s association
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(1) Each licensee that holds a permit for thoroughbred horse racing in this state shall deduct from the purses required by s. 550.2625, an amount of money equal to 1 percent of the total purse pool and shall pay that amount to a horsemen’s association representing the majority of…
Fla. Stat. § 550.26165 Breeders’ awards
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(1) The purpose of this section is to encourage the agricultural activity of breeding and training racehorses in this state. Moneys dedicated in this chapter for use as breeders’ awards and stallion awards are to be used for awards to breeders of registered Florida-bred horses wi…
Fla. Stat. § 550.2625 Horseracing; minimum purse requirement; Florida breeders’ and owners’ awards
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(1) The purse structure and the availability of breeder awards are important factors in attracting the entry of well-bred horses in racing meets in this state which in turn helps to produce maximum racing revenues for the state and the counties.(2) Each permitholder conducting a …
Fla. Stat. § 550.2633 Horseracing; distribution of abandoned interest in or contributions to pari-mutuel pools
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(1) All moneys or other property represented by any unclaimed, uncashed, or abandoned pari-mutuel ticket which has remained in the custody of or under the control of any horseracing permitholder authorized to conduct pari-mutuel pools in this state for a period of 1 year after th…
Fla. Stat. § 550.26352 Breeders’ Cup Meet; pools authorized; conflicts; taxes; credits; transmission of races; rules; application
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(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, there is hereby created a special thoroughbred race meet which shall be designated as the “Breeders’ Cup Meet.” The Breeders’ Cup Meet shall be conducted at the facility of the Florida permitholder selected by Bre…
Fla. Stat. § 550.2704 Jai Alai Tournament of Champions Meet
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(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, there is hereby created a special jai alai meet which shall be designated as the “Jai Alai Tournament of Champions Meet” and which shall be hosted by the Florida jai alai permitholders selected by the National Association of Jai …
Fla. Stat. § 550.285 Obtaining feed or other supplies for racehorses or greyhound racing dogs with intent to defraud
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(1) Any owner, trainer, or custodian of any horse or dog that is being used, or is being bred, raised, or trained to be used in racing at a pari-mutuel facility who obtains food, drugs, transportation, veterinary services, or supplies for the use or benefit of the horse or dog, w…
Fla. Stat. § 550.334 Quarter horse racing; substitutions
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(1) The operator of any licensed racetrack is authorized to lease such track to any quarter horse racing permitholder located within 35 miles of such track for the conduct of quarter horse racing under this chapter. However, a quarter horse facility located in a county where a re…
Fla. Stat. § 550.3345 Conversion of quarter horse permit to a limited thoroughbred permit
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(1) In recognition of the important and long-standing economic contribution of the thoroughbred horse breeding industry to this state and the state’s vested interest in promoting the continued viability of this agricultural activity, the state intends to provide a limited opportu…
Fla. Stat. § 550.3355 Harness track licenses for summer quarter horse racing
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Any harness track licensed to operate under the provisions of s. 550.375 may make application for, and shall be issued by the commission, a license to operate not more than 50 quarter horse racing days during the summer season, which shall extend from July 1 until October 1 of ea…
Fla. Stat. § 550.3551 Transmission of racing and jai alai information; commingling of pari-mutuel pools
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(1)(a) It is unlawful for any person to transmit, by any means, racing information to any person or to relay the same to any person by word of mouth, by signal, or by use of telephone, telegraph, radio, or any other means when the information is knowingly used or intended to be u…
Fla. Stat. § 550.3615 Bookmaking on the grounds of a permitholder; penalties; reinstatement; duties of track employees; penalty; exceptions
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(1) Any person who engages in bookmaking, as defined in s. 849.25, on the grounds or property of a pari-mutuel facility commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 948.01, any person c…
Fla. Stat. § 550.3616 Racing greyhounds or other dogs prohibited; penalty
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A person authorized to conduct gaming or pari-mutuel operations in this state may not race greyhounds or any member of the Canis familiaris subspecies in connection with any wager for money or any other thing of value in this state. A person who violates this section commits a mi…
Fla. Stat. § 550.375 Operation of certain harness tracks
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(1) The Legislature finds that the operation of harness tracks and legalized pari-mutuel and mutuel betting at harness tracks in this state will become a substantial business compatible with the best interests of the state, and the taxes derived therefrom will constitute an impor…
Fla. Stat. § 550.475 Lease of pari-mutuel facilities by pari-mutuel permitholders
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Holders of valid pari-mutuel permits for the conduct of any pari-mutuel wagering in this state are entitled to lease any and all of their facilities to any other holder of a same class valid pari-mutuel permit, when located within a 35-mile radius of each other; and such lessee i…
Fla. Stat. § 550.495 Totalisator licensing
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(1) A totalisator may not be operated at a pari-mutuel facility in this state, or at a facility located in or out of this state which is used as the primary totalisator for a race or game conducted in this state, unless the totalisator company possesses a business license issued …
Fla. Stat. § 550.505 Nonwagering permits
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(1)(a) Except as provided in this section, permits and licenses issued by the commission are intended to be used for pari-mutuel wagering operations in conjunction with horseraces, dograces, or jai alai performances.(b) Subject to the requirements of this section, the commission …