BILL NUMBER: S8877

SPONSOR: TEDISCO
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and
breeding law, in relation to the operation of simulcast at entertainment
theaters in certain areas as special demonstration projects

 
PURPOSE:

To allow Capital Region Off-Track Betting to re-locate one of its demon-
stration projects to anywhere within the Capital Region of New York
State.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 allows any of three demonstration projects to be located in
the Capital District Region, waives the admission fee for the desig-
nation of a new demonstration project location, and establishes that
when a regional harness track located in Saratoga County conducts a live
race meeting, that the newly designated demonstration project will
predominantly air the live race meeting.
              

Section 2 establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Currently, under NY Racing Law § 1009(2-a)(a), Capital District OTB is
authorized to operate one "demonstration project" in Greene County. A
"demonstration project" designation allows Capital Region Off-Track
Betting (Capital OTB) to offer the same bet payouts that bettors would
receive if the wager was placed at the track. The purpose of this desig-
nation is to make the location where the demonstration project is
located more attractive to bettors, as they would not have to pay a 5%
surcharge that exists at other branch locations, and therefore bettors
would keep more of their winnings. This legislation would offer Capital
OTB the option to re-locate their demonstration project to anywhere in
the Capital District OTB Region, as defined by NY Racing Law § 519, so
that they can choose a site that would best benefit the Corporation and
the taxpayers it represents.Re-locating the demonstration project to a
more desired location would increase handle at Capital OTB and provide
bettors with a new surcharge-free wagering location. The bill would also
result in a partnership between Capital OTB and Saratoga Harness Track
whereby the track would receive preferred televising of their races at
that location, and in turn increase revenue from Capital OTB, via the
new Capital Region OTB demonstration project.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

This will reduce the cost of betting at the site formerly operated as a
non-demonstration. Increased betting will generate additional revenue
for relevant county and local governments.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.