2005 Vermont Code - § 629. — Simulcasting of races

§ 629. Simulcasting of races

(a) The commission may authorize a licensee to electronically televise simulcasts of individual horse racing programs operated by the licensee, at the licensee's track during, between, before or after a racing meet, individual race or racing program. As used in this section, the words "racing program" shall mean a full agenda of individual races consecutively conducted in the morning, afternoon or evening of any day. Simulcasts shall not occur on a day when the licensee does not conduct live horse racing. The simulcasts may include horse races conducted at facilities within or outside the state. Each simulcast race upon which pari-mutuel wagering is conducted shall be exhibited by the licensee via television or other means of electronic reproduction, simultaneously with the conduct of the race at its point of origin. All simulcasts of races from outside the state shall also comply with the provisions of the Interstate Racing Act of 1978, 92 Stat. 1811, 15 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq. No pari-mutuel simulcasting shall be held on Sunday between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 1:00 p.m.

(b) Pari-mutuel wagering and the sale of pari-mutuel pools by the licensee shall be allowed on horse races to be televised by simulcasting. Commission rates and the state share shall be as for racing under section 615 of this title. Rules and regulations may be prescribed by the commission under section 605 of this title and under other provisions of this chapter.

(c) With respect to simulcasts by the licensee authorized by this section, the combination of Vermont wagers with wagers of the same type made in other states or foreign countries is authorized in connection with races taking place in another state and simulcast to this state to produce a common pari-mutuel pool for the calculation of odds and the determination of payouts from such pool, which payouts shall be, so far as practicable, and so far as is consistent with the applicable laws and regulations of the state in which the race is conducted, the same for all winning bets of the same type irrespective of whether a wager is placed in this state or in another state or foreign country.

(d) With respect to simulcasts authorized by this section, the commission shall prescribe regulations governing the combination of Vermont wagers on simulcast races with wagers made outside the state. In the event that an agency of a state in which races simulcast or sought to be simulcast to this state are conducted, withholds, revokes, or is bound or directed by statute, rule, or regulation to withhold or revoke the authority of any person within the state where the race is conducted to simulcast races to Vermont, to combine wagers with Vermont wagers, or to enter into any simulcasting agreement with a Vermont licensee because the commission or breakage rates, or both, provided by section 615 of this title are inconsistent with the rates established by law in the state where the race is conducted, the commission may, by regulation, alter the commission rate that would otherwise apply, the breakage rate that would otherwise apply, or both, so as to make the rate or rates consistent with the rate or rates established by law in the state where the race is conducted. Any special commission or breakage rate established pursuant to this section shall apply only to races or race programs conducted outside this state which, but for the exercise of the authority conferred by this section to alter rates, would be ineligible for simulcasting to Vermont or for the combining of wagers. (Added 1991, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. April 23, 1992; amended 1995, No. 12, § 12, eff. April 5, 1995; 1997, No. 59, § 89e, eff. June 30, 1997.)