S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  9622

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 21, 2012
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, ZEBROWSKI, SWEENEY -- Multi-Spon-
  sored by -- M. of A.  P. RIVERA, THIELE -- read once and  referred  to
  the Committee on Racing and Wagering

AN  ACT  to  amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law and
  the tax law, in relation to allowing off-track betting corporations in
  the state to host video lottery terminals

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. Section 503 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breed-
ing law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10-a to read as follows:
  10-A. IN A REGION IN WHICH NO PARTICIPATING COUNTY CONTAINS  EITHER  A
THOROUGHBRED OR STANDARDBRED RACETRACK LICENSED TO OPERATE BY THE RACING
AND  WAGERING  BOARD, TO OPERATE VIDEO LOTTERY GAMING AT A CORPORATION'S
FACILITY WHICH IS LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE THOUSAND EIGHT OR ONE
THOUSAND NINE OF THIS CHAPTER;
  S 2. Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph 1 of subdivision b of section 1612
of the tax law, as amended by section 6 of part K of chapter 57  of  the
laws  of 2010, clause (I) as added by  section 1 of part O of chapter 61
of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
  (ii) less a vendor's fee the amount of which is to be paid for serving
as a lottery agent to the track operator of a vendor track; AND  LESS  A
VENDOR'S  FEE  TO BE PAID FOR SERVING AS A LOTTERY AGENT TO THE REGIONAL
OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION OPERATOR AT  AN  AUTHORIZED  PARTICIPATING
OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY LICENSED PURSUANT TO EITHER SECTION ONE THOU-
SAND  EIGHT OR ONE THOUSAND NINE OF THE RACING, PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING AND
BREEDING LAW:
  (A) having fewer than one thousand one hundred video gaming  machines,
at  a  rate  of  thirty-five percent for the first fifty million dollars
annually, twenty-eight percent for  the  next  hundred  million  dollars
annually,  and  twenty-five  percent  thereafter  of  the  total revenue
wagered at the vendor track after payout for  prizes  pursuant  to  this
chapter;
  (B)  having one thousand one hundred or more video gaming machines, at
a rate of thirty-one percent of the total revenue wagered at the  vendor

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD14884-01-2

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track  after payout for prizes pursuant to this chapter, except for such
facility located in the county of Westchester, in which  case  the  rate
shall be thirty percent until March thirty-first, two thousand twelve.
  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing, not later than April first, two thou-
sand twelve, the vendor fee AT SUCH TRACK OR  VENDOR  OFF-TRACK  BETTING
FACILITY shall become thirty-one percent and remain at that level there-
after;  and  except for Aqueduct racetrack, in which case the vendor fee
shall be thirty-eight percent of the total revenue wagered at the vendor
track after payout for prizes pursuant to this chapter;
  (C) notwithstanding clauses (A) and (B) of this subparagraph, when the
vendor track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY is located in an  area
with  a population of less than one million within the forty mile radius
around such track, at a rate of thirty-nine percent for the first  fifty
million  dollars  annually,  twenty-eight  percent  for the next hundred
million dollars annually, and  twenty-five  percent  thereafter  of  the
total  revenue  wagered  at the vendor track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING
FACILITY after payout for prizes pursuant to this chapter;
  (D) notwithstanding clauses (A), (B) and  (C)  of  this  subparagraph,
when  the  vendor  track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY is located
within fifteen miles of a Native American class III gaming facility at a
rate of forty-one percent of the total revenue  wagered  at  the  vendor
track after payout for prizes pursuant to this chapter;
  (E)  notwithstanding  clauses  (A),  (B), (C) and (D) of this subpara-
graph, when a Native American class III gaming facility is  established,
after  the  effective date of this subparagraph, within fifteen miles of
the vendor track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING  FACILITY,  at  a  rate  of
forty-one  percent  of the total revenue wagered after payout for prizes
pursuant to this chapter;
  (E-1) for purposes of this subdivision, the term  "class  III  gaming"
shall have the meaning defined in 25 U.S.C. S 2703(8).
  (F) notwithstanding clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) of this subpar-
agraph,  when  a  vendor track, is located in Sullivan county and within
sixty miles from any gaming facility in a contiguous state  such  vendor
fee  shall, for a period of five years commencing April first, two thou-
sand eight, be at a rate of  forty-one  percent  of  the  total  revenue
wagered  at  the  vendor  track after payout for prizes pursuant to this
chapter, after which time such rate shall be as for all tracks in clause
(C) of this subparagraph.
  (G) notwithstanding clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) and  (F)  of  this
subparagraph,  when no more than one vendor track located in the town of
Thompson in Sullivan county at the site of the former Concord Resort  at
which a qualified capital investment has been made and no fewer than one
thousand  full-time,  permanent  employees  have  been  newly  hired, is
located in Sullivan county and is within sixty  miles  from  any  gaming
facility  in  a  contiguous  state, then for a period of forty years the
vendor's fee shall equal the total revenue wagered at the  vendor  track
after  payout  of  prizes  pursuant  to  this subdivision reduced by the
greater of (i) twenty-five percent of total  revenue  after  payout  for
prizes  for  "video  lottery games" or (ii) for the first eight years of
operation thirty-eight million dollars, and beginning in the ninth  year
of  operation  such  amount shall increase annually by the lesser of the
increase in the consumer price index or two percent, plus seven  percent
of  total  revenue after payout of prizes. In addition, in the event the
vendor fee is calculated pursuant to subclause (i) of this  clause,  the
vendor's  fee shall be further reduced by 11.11 percent of the amount by
which total revenue after payout for prizes exceeds two hundred  fifteen

A. 9622                             3

million  dollars,  but  in  no  event  shall  such reduction exceed five
million dollars.
  Provided,  however,  that in the case of no more than one vendor track
located in the town of Thompson in Sullivan county at the  site  of  the
former Concord Resort with a qualified capital investment, and one thou-
sand  full-time, permanent employees if at any time after three years of
opening operations of the licensed video  gaming  facility  or  licensed
vendor track, the vendor track experiences an employment shortfall, then
the  recapture amount shall apply, for only such period as the shortfall
exists.
  For the purposes of this section "qualified capital investment"  shall
mean  an  investment  of  a  minimum  of  six hundred million dollars as
reflected by audited financial statements of which not less  than  three
hundred  million  dollars  shall be comprised of equity and/or mezzanine
financing as an initial investment in a county where twelve  percent  of
the  population  is  below  the federal poverty level as measured by the
most recent Bureau of Census Statistics prior to the  qualified  capital
investment  commencing  that results in the construction, development or
improvement  of  at  least  one  eighteen  hole  golf  course,  and  the
construction and issuance of certificates of occupancy for hotels, lodg-
ing,  spas, dining, retail and entertainment venues, parking garages and
other capital improvements at or adjacent to the licensed  video  gaming
facility  or  licensed vendor track which promote or encourage increased
attendance at such facilities.
  For the purposes of  this  section,  "full-time,  permanent  employee"
shall  mean  an  employee  who  has worked at the video gaming facility,
vendor track or related and adjacent facilities for a minimum  of  thir-
ty-five  hours per week for not less than four consecutive weeks and who
is entitled to receive the usual and customary fringe benefits  extended
to  other  employees  with  comparable rank and duties; or two part-time
employees who have worked at the video gaming facility, vendor track  or
related  and  adjacent  facilities for a combined minimum of thirty-five
hours per week for not less than four  consecutive  weeks  and  who  are
entitled  to receive the usual and customary fringe benefits extended to
other employees with comparable rank and duties.
  For the purpose of this section "employment goal" shall mean one thou-
sand five hundred full-time permanent employees  after  three  years  of
opening  operations  of  the  licensed video gaming facility or licensed
vendor track.
  For the purpose of this section "employment shortfall"  shall  mean  a
level  of  employment that falls below the employment goal, as certified
annually by vendor's certified  accountants  and  the  chairman  of  the
empire state development corporation.
  For  the  purposes  of  this section "recapture amount" shall mean the
difference between the amount of the vendor's fee paid to a vendor track
with a qualified capital investment, and the vendor fee otherwise  paya-
ble  to a vendor track pursuant to clause (F) of this subparagraph, that
is reimbursable by the vendor track to the division for payment into the
state treasury, to the credit of  the  state  lottery  fund  created  by
section  ninety-two-c  of  the  state  finance law, due to an employment
shortfall pursuant to the following schedule only for the period of  the
employment shortfall:
  (i)  one  hundred  percent  of  the recapture amount if the employment
shortfall is greater  than  sixty-six  and  two-thirds  percent  of  the
employment goal;

A. 9622                             4

  (ii)  seventy-five  percent  of the recapture amount if the employment
shortfall is greater than thirty-three  and  one-third  percent  of  the
employment goal;
  (iii)  forty-nine  and one-half percent of the recapture amount if the
employment shortfall is greater than thirty percent  of  the  employment
goal;
  (iv)  twenty-two  percent  of  the  recapture amount if the employment
shortfall is greater than twenty percent of the employment goal;
  (v) eleven percent of the recapture amount if the employment shortfall
is greater than ten percent of the employment goal.
  (H) notwithstanding clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F)  and  (G)  of
this  subparagraph,  the  track  operator of a vendor track OR OFF-TRACK
BETTING OPERATOR OF A VENDOR  OFF-TRACK  BETTING  CORPORATION  shall  be
eligible for a vendor's capital award of up to four percent of the total
revenue wagered at the vendor track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY
after  payout  for  prizes pursuant to this chapter, which shall be used
exclusively for capital project investments to improve the facilities of
the vendor track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY which  promote  or
encourage  increased  attendance  at  the  video lottery gaming facility
including, but not limited to hotels, other lodging  facilities,  enter-
tainment   facilities,  retail  facilities,  dining  facilities,  events
arenas, parking garages and other  improvements  that  enhance  facility
amenities;  provided  that such capital investments shall be approved by
the division, in consultation with the state racing and wagering  board,
and  that  such vendor track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY demon-
strates that such capital expenditures will increase patronage  at  such
vendor track's OR VENDOR'S OFF-TRACK BETTING facilities and increase the
amount  of  revenue  generated  to support state education programs. The
annual amount of such vendor's capital awards that a vendor track  shall
be  eligible  to  receive  shall  be limited to two million five hundred
thousand dollars, except for Aqueduct racetrack, for which  there  shall
be  no  vendor's  capital awards. Except for tracks OR OFF-TRACK BETTING
FACILITIES having less  than  one  thousand  one  hundred  video  gaming
machines,  each  track  operator  OR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY OPERATOR
shall be required to co-invest an amount of capital expenditure equal to
its cumulative vendor's capital  award.  For  all  tracks  OR  OFF-TRACK
BETTING  FACILITIES,  except  for  Aqueduct racetrack, the amount of any
vendor's capital award that is not used during any one year  period  may
be  carried  over  into  subsequent years ending before April first, two
thousand thirteen. Any amount  attributable  to  a  capital  expenditure
approved  prior  to  April  first,  two  thousand thirteen and completed
before April first, two thousand fifteen shall be  eligible  to  receive
the  vendor's  capital award. In the event that a vendor track's capital
expenditures, approved by the division prior to April first,  two  thou-
sand  thirteen and completed prior to April first, two thousand fifteen,
exceed the vendor track's cumulative capital award during the five  year
period  ending  April  first,  two  thousand  thirteen, the vendor shall
continue to receive the capital award after April  first,  two  thousand
thirteen until such approved capital expenditures are paid to the vendor
track  subject  to  any  required  co-investment.  In no event shall any
vendor track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY that receives a vendor
fee pursuant to clause (F) or (G) of this subparagraph be eligible for a
vendor's capital award under this section.  Any  operator  of  a  vendor
track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY which has received a vendor's
capital  award,  choosing to divest the capital improvement toward which
the award was applied, prior to the full  depreciation  of  the  capital

A. 9622                             5

improvement in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
shall  reimburse  the  state  in  amounts equal to the total of any such
awards. Any capital award not approved for a capital  expenditure  at  a
video  lottery  gaming  facility  by  April first, two thousand thirteen
shall be deposited into the state lottery fund for education aid; and
  (I) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the  contrary,  free  play
allowance  credits  authorized by the division pursuant to subdivision f
of section sixteen hundred seventeen-a of  this  article  shall  not  be
included in the calculation of the total amount wagered on video lottery
games,  the total amount wagered after payout of prizes, the vendor fees
payable to the operators of video lottery facilities,  vendor's  capital
awards,  fees  payable  to the division's video lottery gaming equipment
contractors, or racing support payments.
  S 3. Subparagraph (iii) of paragraph 1 and the  opening  paragraph  of
paragraph  2 of subdivision b of section 1612 of the tax law, as amended
by section 1 of part O-1 of chapter 57 of the laws of 2009, are  amended
to read as follows:
  (iii) less an additional vendor's marketing allowance at a rate of ten
percent  for  the  first  one hundred million dollars annually and eight
percent thereafter of the total revenue wagered at the vendor  track  OR
VENDOR  OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY after payout for prizes to be used by
the vendor track OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY for the  marketing
and  promotion  and  associated  costs of its video lottery gaming oper-
ations and pari-mutuel horse racing operations,  as  long  as  any  such
costs associated with pari-mutuel horse racing operations simultaneously
encourage  increased  attendance  at  such vendor's video lottery gaming
facilities, consistent with the customary manner of marketing comparable
operations in the industry and subject to the overall supervision of the
division; provided, however,  that  the  additional  vendor's  marketing
allowance shall not exceed eight percent in any year for any operator of
a  racetrack  located  in the county of Westchester or Queens; provided,
however, a vendor  track  OR  VENDOR  OFF-TRACK  BETTING  FACILITY  that
receives  a  vendor  fee  pursuant to clause (G) of subparagraph (ii) of
this paragraph shall  not  receive  the  additional  vendor's  marketing
allowance. In establishing the vendor fee, the division shall ensure the
maximum  lottery support for education while also ensuring the effective
implementation of section sixteen hundred seventeen-a  of  this  article
through  the  provision of reasonable reimbursements and compensation to
vendor tracks OR VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITIES  for  participation
in  such  program. Within twenty days after any award of lottery prizes,
the division shall pay into the state treasury, to  the  credit  of  the
state  lottery fund, the balance of all moneys received from the sale of
all tickets for the lottery in which such prizes were awarded  remaining
after provision for the payment of prizes as herein provided. Any reven-
ues  derived  from  the  sale of advertising on lottery tickets shall be
deposited in the state lottery fund.
  As consideration for the operation of a video lottery gaming facility,
the division, shall cause the investment in the  racing  industry  of  a
portion  of  the  vendor  fee received pursuant to paragraph one of this
subdivision in the manner set forth  in  this  subdivision.    With  the
exception  of  ANY  VENDOR OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY AND Aqueduct race-
track, each such track shall dedicate a  portion  of  its  vendor  fees,
received  pursuant  to  clause  (A),  (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), or (G) of
subparagraph (ii) of paragraph one of this subdivision, solely  for  the
purpose  of  enhancing purses at such track, in an amount equal to eight
and three-quarters percent of the total revenue wagered  at  the  vendor

A. 9622                             6

track after pay out for prizes. In addition, with the exception of Aque-
duct  racetrack, one and one-quarter percent of total revenue wagered at
the vendor track after pay out for prizes, received pursuant  to  clause
(A),  (B),  (C), (D), (E), (F), or (G) of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph
one of this subdivision, shall be distributed to the appropriate  breed-
ing fund for the manner of racing conducted by such track.
  S  4.  Subdivision  a  of section 1617-a of the tax law, as amended by
section 2 of part O-1 of chapter 57 of the laws of 2009, is  amended  to
read as follows:
  a. The division of the lottery is hereby authorized to license, pursu-
ant  to  rules  and regulations to be promulgated by the division of the
lottery, the operation of video lottery gaming at (1)  Aqueduct,  Monti-
cello,  Yonkers,  Finger  Lakes,  and Vernon Downs racetracks, or at any
other racetrack licensed pursuant to article three of the racing,  pari-
mutuel  wagering  and breeding law that are located in a county or coun-
ties in which video lottery gaming has been authorized pursuant to local
law, excluding the licensed racetrack commonly referred  to  in  article
three  of  the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law as the "New
York state exposition" held in Onondaga county and the racetracks of the
non-profit racing association known as Belmont Park  racetrack  and  the
Saratoga  thoroughbred  racetrack;  AND  (2)  AT  ONE REGIONAL OFF-TRACK
BETTING CORPORATION FACILITY LICENSED PURSUANT TO SECTION  ONE  THOUSAND
EIGHT  OR  ONE  THOUSAND  NINE  OF  THE RACING, PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING AND
BREEDING LAW WITHIN ANY REGION IN WHICH NO PARTICIPATING COUNTY CONTAINS
EITHER A THOROUGHBRED OR STANDARDBRED RACETRACK LICENSED TO  OPERATE  BY
THE  RACING  AND  WAGERING  BOARD.    Such  rules  and regulations shall
provide, as a  condition  of  licensure,  that  racetracks  OR  REGIONAL
OFF-TRACK  BETTING  CORPORATIONS, AS CREATED BY SECTION FIVE HUNDRED TWO
OF THE RACING, PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING AND BREEDING LAW, to be licensed are
certified to be in compliance with all state and local fire  and  safety
codes, that the division is afforded adequate space, infrastructure, and
amenities consistent with industry standards for such video gaming oper-
ations  as  found  at  racetracks  in  other  states,  that racetrack OR
REGIONAL OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION employees involved in the  opera-
tion  of  video  lottery gaming pursuant to this section are licensed by
the racing and wagering board, and such other terms  and  conditions  of
licensure  as the division may establish. Notwithstanding any inconsist-
ent provision of law, video lottery gaming at a  racetrack  OR  REGIONAL
OFF-TRACK  BETTING  CORPORATION pursuant to this section shall be deemed
an approved activity for such racetrack OR  REGIONAL  OFF-TRACK  BETTING
CORPORATION  under  the relevant city, county, town, or village land use
or zoning ordinances, rules, or regulations. No entity licensed  by  the
division  operating  video  lottery  gaming pursuant to this section may
house such gaming activity in a structure  deemed  or  approved  by  the
division  as  "temporary" for a duration of longer than eighteen-months.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the division  from  licensing  an
entity  to  operate  video  lottery  gaming  at an existing racetrack as
authorized in this subdivision whether or  not  a  different  entity  is
licensed  to conduct horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at such race-
track pursuant to article two or three of the racing, pari-mutuel wager-
ing and breeding law.
  The division, in consultation with  the  racing  and  wagering  board,
shall  establish  standards  for approval of the temporary and permanent
physical layout and construction of any facility or building devoted  to
a  video lottery gaming operation. In reviewing such application for the
construction or reconstruction of facilities related or devoted  to  the

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operation  or  housing of video lottery gaming operations, the division,
in consultation with the racing and wagering board,  shall  ensure  that
such facility:
  (1)  possesses superior consumer amenities and conveniences to encour-
age and attract the patronage of tourists and other visitors from across
the region, state, and nation.
  (2) has adequate motor vehicle parking facilities  to  satisfy  patron
requirements.
  (3)  has a physical layout and location that facilitates access to and
from the horse racing track portion of such facility to encourage patro-
nage of live horse racing events that are conducted at such track.
  S 5. This act shall take effect the first of January  next  succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.