Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 15 : Section 3004


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 3004. Regulation of interstate off-track wagering

    (a) Consent of host racing association, host racing commission, and
      off-track racing commission as prerequisite to acceptance of
      wager
      An interstate off-track wager may be accepted by an off-track
    betting system only if consent is obtained from - 
        (1) the host racing association, except that - 
          (A) as a condition precedent to such consent, said racing
        association (except a not-for-profit racing association in a
        State where the distribution of off-track betting revenues in
        that State is set forth by law) must have a written agreement
        with the horsemen's group, under which said racing association
        may give such consent, setting forth the terms and conditions
        relating thereto; provided,
          (B) that where the host racing association has a contract
        with a horsemen's group at the time of enactment of this
        chapter which contains no provisions referring to interstate
        off-track betting, the terms and conditions of said
        then-existing contract shall be deemed to apply to the
        interstate off-track wagers and no additional written agreement
        need be entered into unless the parties to such then-existing
        contract agree otherwise. Where such provisions exist in such
        existing contract, such contract shall govern. Where written
        consents exist at the time of enactment of this chapter between
        an off-track betting system and the host racing association
        providing for interstate off-track wagers, or such written
        consents are executed by these parties prior to the expiration
        of such then-existing contract, upon the expiration of such
        then-existing contract the written agreement of such horsemen's
        group shall thereafter be required as such condition precedent
        and as a part of the regular contractual process, and may not
        be withdrawn or varied except in the regular contractual
        process. Where no such written consent exists, and where such
        written agreement occurs at a racing association which has a
        regular contractual process with such horsemen's group, said
        agreement by the horsemen's group may not be withdrawn or
        varied except in the regular contractual process;

        (2) the host racing commission;
        (3) the off-track racing commission.
    (b) Approval of tracks as prerequisite to acceptance of wager;
      exceptions
      (1) In addition to the requirement of subsection (a) of this
    section, any off-track betting office shall obtain the approval of
    - 
        (A) all currently operating tracks within 60 miles of such
      off-track betting office; and
        (B) if there are no currently operating tracks within 60 miles
      then the closest currently operating track in an adjoining State.

      (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this
    subsection, any off-track betting office in a State with at least
    250 days of on-track parimutuel horseracing a year, may accept
    interstate off-track wagers for a total of 60 racing days and 25
    special events a year without the approval required by paragraph
    (1), if with respect to such 60 racing days, there is no racing of
    the same type at the same time of day being conducted within the
    off-track betting State within 60 miles of the off-track betting
    office accepting the wager, or such racing program cannot be
    completed. Excluded from such 60 days and from the consent required
    by subsection (b)(1) of this section may be dark days which occur
    during a regularly scheduled race meeting in said off-track betting
    State. In order to accept any interstate off-track wager under the
    terms of the preceding sentence the off-track betting office shall
    make identical offers to any racing association described in
    subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(1) of this section. Nothing in
    this subparagraph shall be construed to reduce or eliminate the
    necessity of obtaining all the approvals required by subsection (a)
    of this section.
    (c) Takeout amount
      No parimutuel off-track betting system may employ a takeout for
    an interstate wager which is greater than the takeout for
    corresponding wagering pools of off-track wagers on races run
    within the off-track State except where such greater takeout is
    authorized by State law in the off-track State.



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