Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblywoman CONNIE WAGNER
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman TIMOTHY J. EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman McHose
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes placement of horse racing wagers using mobile gaming devices at in-State racetracks subject to commission rules and regulations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the placement of horse racing wagers at in-State racetracks and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 5 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The New Jersey Racing Commission may authorize the use of mobile gaming devices by patrons at in-State racetracks for the placement of wagers on in-State and out-of-State races being transmitted to the racetrack through an approved simulcasting signal, and live races taking place at that racetrack. As used in this section, “mobile gaming devices” means communications technology that allows a patron to transmit information to a computer to place a horse racing wager and to receive and display information concerning wagers, outcomes, and other information necessary or required to be provided to the patron in connection with wagering. The commission shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to implement the use of mobile gaming devices at approved racetracks in this State, which shall include, but may not be limited to, ensuring that:
(1) the patron is of lawful age and has established a mobile gaming account in person with the permit holder at the permit holder’s racetrack where mobile gaming wagers will be placed;
(2) the wager is placed by and the winnings paid to the patron in person within the approved racetrack facility;
(3) the amounts wagered are distributed in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations;
(4) the mobile gaming device is inoperable outside the approved racetrack;
(5) the commission has authorized the device for mobile gaming; and
(6) mobile wagering is conducted in compliance with other applicable laws, rules, and regulations governing the conduct of horse racing and wagering in this State.
b. For the purposes of this section, mobile gaming devices shall be permitted to operate within the property boundaries of an approved racetrack facility, including any restaurant, simulcasting room, and outdoor area, provided that the commission shall ascertain and ensure, pursuant to rules and regulations issued by it to implement mobile gaming under this section, that mobile gaming shall not extend outside of the property boundaries of the racetrack facility.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of this section, the commission may allow the use of mobile gaming in designated areas of the Meadowlands Complex defined under section 3 of P.L.1971, c.137 (C.5:10-3), in addition to the Meadowlands Racetrack, subject to mutual agreement between the racetrack permit holder or owner or lessee and the owner or developer of the designated area of the Meadowlands Complex within which mobile gaming may be implemented pursuant to this subsection.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the New Jersey Racing Commission to promulgate rules and regulations to allow the use of mobile gaming devices by patrons at in-State racetracks for the placement of wagers on in-State and out-of-State races being transmitted to the racetrack through an approved simulcasting signal, and live races taking place at that racetrack. Under the bill, “mobile gaming devices” are defined as communications technology that allows a patron to transmit information to a computer to place a horse racing wager and to receive and display information concerning wagers, outcomes, and other information necessary or required to be provided to the patron in connection with wagering. The commission’s rules and regulations must ensure that: (1) the patron is of lawful age and has established a mobile gaming account in person with the permit holder; (2) the wager is placed by and the winnings paid to the patron in person within the approved racetrack facility; (3) the amounts wagered are distributed in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations; (4) the mobile gaming device is inoperable outside the approved racetrack; (5) the commission has authorized the device for mobile gaming; and that (6) mobile wagering is conducted in compliance with other applicable laws, rules, and regulations governing the conduct of horse racing and wagering in this State.
Under the bill, mobile gaming devices would be permitted to operate within the property boundaries of an approved racetrack facility, including any restaurant, simulcasting room, and outdoor area, but the commission must ascertain and ensure that mobile gaming does not extend outside of the property boundaries of the racetrack facility. However, the bill permits the commission to allow the use of mobile gaming in designated areas of the Meadowlands Complex defined under section 3 of P.L.1971, c.137 (C.5:10-3), in addition to the Meadowlands Racetrack, subject to mutual agreement between the racetrack permit holder or owner or lessee and the owner or developer of the designated area of the Meadowlands Complex.