§149.5. Account wagering

A. As used in this Chapter, "account wagering" means a form of pari-mutuel wagering in which an individual may deposit money in an account with an authorized licensee and then use the account balance to pay for pari-mutuel wagers made in person, by telephone call, or by communication through other electronic means.

B.(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the commission shall adopt rules regulating account wagering and shall authorize account wagering to be conducted by a licensee operating a pari-mutuel live horse racing facility.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a facility authorized to conduct account wagering shall pay to the licensed racing facilities in the state located within the same area as provided for in R.S. 4:214(A)(3) the highest source market percentage paid to the licensee by any other account wagering carrier located outside of the state.

(3) Any source market commission outside of the area provided for in R.S. 4:214(A)(3) shall be divided equally among active account operators residing in the state of Louisiana.

C. Subject to applicable federal laws, including but not limited to the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, 15 USCA 3001 et seq., and the Wire Communications Act, 18 USCA 1081 and 1084, the commission shall permit an authorized licensee to conduct account wagering on any live horse races conducted at his facility and races conducted at other facilities upon which the licensee of said facility is lawfully authorized to accept offtrack wagers.

D. The licensee may deduct commissions from wagers placed through account wagering and make any such commission payable to the person or entity conducting the race for the privilege of conducting pari-mutuel wagering on the race.

E.(1) Except as otherwise provided by law, all provisions of law and of the rules of the commission governing pari-mutuel wagers on horse races placed in person within the grounds on which a race meeting is licensed to be conducted and the distribution of the pools created by such wagers shall apply to account wagering.

(2) Each wager placed pursuant to regulations authorizing account wagering shall be treated as a wager placed within the enclosure at which the licensee is authorized to conduct a race meeting.

(3) The provisions of law or contract, if any, governing the distribution of shares of the takeout from wagers placed in this state in separate pari-mutuel pools on races run in another state, to this state as pari-mutuel taxes, or respectively to breeder awards and to purses in this state, shall remain in effect for wagers placed through account wagering, as if the wager had been placed at the licensee's facility. With the concurrence of the licensee, the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and the appropriate breeders' organization, the share of breeder awards or purses may be modified as long as the modification does not impair the interest of any other person or entity entitled or authorized to participate directly in the distribution.

F. No system of account wagering located outside of this state shall accept wagers from residents or other persons located within this state, nor shall residents or other persons located within this state place wagers through account wagering systems located outside of this state, except with the permission of either one of the following:

(1) A licensee of race meetings, concerning wagers on races conducted in this state by that licensee.

(2) A licensee of race meetings authorized to conduct account wagering in this state, if the races are not conducted in this state.

Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 148, §1; Acts 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 27, §1; Acts 2011, No. 356, §1.