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An Act To Enhance Equity and Efficiency for Off-track Betting Facilities
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  8 MRSA §275-A, sub-§7-A  is enacted to read:
 
7-A.  Net commission.     "Net commission" means the total commission less 4% of the amount wagered.
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §275-N, as amended by PL 2003, c. 401, §14, is further amended to read:
§ 275-N.Limitations on off-track betting facilities
The commission may not allow interstate simulcasting orand license any off-track betting facility regardless of the number of race dates that were conducted in the State for any calendar year unless during the preceding 2 calendar years there were at least 150 race dates on which live racing actually was conducted at the commercial tracks. Interstate simulcasting always must be allowed at any commercial track that conducted at least 136 race dates during the immediately preceding 2 calendar years or at an existing commercial track as defined in section 275-A, subsection 1, paragraph B at which at least 35 race dates were conducted during the preceding 2 years if the interstate simulcasting at the commercial track is conducted during the regular meeting. For the purposes of this section, any race date that the commission determines was canceled due to a natural or other disaster must be counted as a race date. For the purposes of this section and for the purpose of meeting the requirements of section 275-A, subsection 1, any race date that is canceled at a commercial race track due to the inability to meet the requirements of section 275-A, subsection 9-A because of a horse shortage, as verified by the state steward, is counted as a race date.
Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §286, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 528, §46, is amended to read:
 
4. Off-track betting facility interstate simulcasting with commingled pools.   The distribution of the commission on simulcasting of races with commingled pools originating at a racetrack in another state by an off-track betting facility is calculated as a percentage of the commission with respect to the State's share and as percentages of the net commission with respect to all other participants' shares and is distributed as follows.
 
A. On exotic wagers:
 
(1) The state share is 8.647% for an off-track betting facility located in the same municipality as a commercial track and 9.801% for all other facilities;
 
(2) The Sire Stakes Fund share is 5.965%;
 
(3) The Stipend Fund share is 4.494%;
 
(4) The purse supplement share is 16.558%;
 
(5) The Harness Racing Promotional Fund share is 0.962%;
 
(6) The off-track betting facility share is 49.269%all amounts not otherwise assigned; and
 
(7) The off-track betting facility simulcast fund share is 12.951%.
 
B. On regular wagers:
 
(1) The state share is 2.739% for an off-track betting facility located in the same municipality as a commercial track and 4.405% for all other facilities;
 
(2) The Sire Stakes Fund share is 0.400%;
 
(3) The Stipend Fund share is 6.590%;
 
(4) The purse supplement share is 8.399%;
 
(5) The Harness Racing Promotional Fund share is 1.389%;
 
(6) The off-track betting facility share is 60.190%all amounts not otherwise assigned; and
 
(7) The off-track betting facility simulcast fund share is 18.627%.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 127th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.