N.Y. Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law § 236 – Disposition of pari-mutuel pools; percentage payable to state as a tax; authority of counties or certain cities to impose a tax

1. Every corporation authorized under this chapter to conduct pari-mutuel betting at a race meeting on races run thereat, except as provided in section two hundred thirty-eight of this article with respect to the franchised corporation, shall distribute all sums deposited in any pari-mutuel pool to the holders of winning tickets therein, providing such tickets be presented for payment before April first of the year following the year of their purchase, less an amount which shall be established and retained by such racing corporation of between fourteen to twenty per centum of the total deposits in pools resulting from regular on-track bets and less sixteen to twenty-two per centum of the total deposits in pools resulting from multiple on-track bets and less twenty to thirty per centum of the total deposits in pools resulting from exotic on-track bets and less twenty to thirty-six per centum of the total pools resulting from super exotic on-track bets, plus the breaks. The retention rate to be established is subject to the prior approval of the racing and wagering board. Such rate may not be changed more than once per calendar quarter to be effective on the first day of the calendar quarter. "Exotic bets" and "multiple bets" shall have the meanings set forth in section five hundred nineteen of this chapter and breaks are hereby defined as the odd cents over any multiple of ten, or for exotic bets over any multiple of fifty, or for super exotic bets, over any multiple of one hundred, calculated on the basis of one dollar, otherwise payable to a patron provided, however, that effective after October fifteenth, nineteen hundred ninety-four breaks are hereby defined as the odd cents over any multiple of five for payoffs greater than one dollar five cents but less than five dollars, over any multiple of ten for payoffs greater than five dollars but less than twenty-five dollars, over any multiple of twenty-five for payoffs greater than twenty-five dollars but less than two hundred fifty dollars, or over any multiple of fifty for payoffs over two hundred fifty dollars. "Super exotic bets" shall have the meaning set forth in section three hundred one of this chapter. Of the amount so retained there shall be paid by such corporation to the department of taxation and finance as a reasonable tax by the state for the privilege of conducting pari-mutuel betting on the races run at the race meeting held by such corporation, which tax is hereby levied, the following percentages of the total pool, plus fifty-five per centum of the breaks; the applicable rates for regular and multiple bets shall be one and one-half per centum; the applicable rates for exotic bets shall be six and three-quarter per centum and the applicable rate for super exotic bets shall be seven and three-quarter per centum. Effective on and after September first, nineteen hundred ninety-four, the applicable tax rate shall be one per centum of all wagers, provided that, an amount equal to one-half the difference between the taxation rate for on-track regular, multiple and exotic bets as of December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-three and the rates on such on-track wagers as herein provided shall be used exclusively for purses. Provided, however, that for any twelve-month period beginning on April first in nineteen hundred ninety and any year thereafter, each of the applicable rates set forth above shall be increased by one-quarter of one per centum on all on-track bets of any such racing corporation that did not expend an amount equal to at least one-half of one per centum of its on-track bets during the immediately preceding calendar year for enhancements consisting of capital improvements as defined by section two hundred thirty-seven of this article, repairs to its physical plant, structures, and equipment used in its racing or wagering operations as certified by the state racing and wagering board to the commissioner of taxation and finance no later than eighty days after the close of such calendar year, and five special events at each track in each calendar year, not otherwise conducted in the ordinary course of business, the purpose of which shall be to encourage, attract and promote track attendance and encourage new and continued patronage, which events shall be approved by the racing and wagering board for purposes of this subdivision. In the determination of the amounts expended for such enhancements, the board may consider the immediately preceding twelve month calendar period or the average of the two immediately preceding twelve month calendar periods. Provided further, however, that of the portion of the increased amounts retained by such corporation above those amounts retained in nineteen hundred eighty-four, an amount of such increase shall be distributed to purses in the same proportion as commissions and purses were distributed during nineteen hundred eighty-four as certified by the board. Such corporation in the second zone shall receive a credit against the daily tax imposed by this subdivision in an amount equal to one per centum of total daily pools resulting from the simulcast of such corporation's races to licensed facilities operated by regional off-track betting corporations in accordance with section one thousand eight of this chapter, provided however, that sixty per centum of the amount of such credit shall be used exclusively to increase purses for overnight races conducted by such corporation; and, provided further, that in no event shall such total daily credit exceed one per centum of the total daily pool of such corporation. Provided, however, that on and after September first, nineteen hundred ninety-four such credit shall be four-tenths percent of total daily pools resulting from such simulcasting and that in no event shall such total daily credit equal four-tenths percent of the total daily pool of such corporation. Such corporation shall pay to the New York state thoroughbred breeding and development fund one-half of one per centum of the total daily on-track pari-mutuel pools from regular, multiple and exotic bets, and three per centum of super exotic bets. The corporation shall receive credit as a reduction of the tax by the state for the privilege of conducting pari-mutuel betting for the amounts, except amounts paid from super exotic betting pools, paid to the New York state thoroughbred breeding and development fund after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight. Such corporation shall distribute to purses an amount equal to fifty per centum of any compensation it receives from simulcasting or from wagering conducted outside the United States. Such corporation shall pay to the racing and wagering board as a regulatory fee, which fee is hereby levied, fifty hundredths of one per centum of the total daily on-track pari-mutuel pools of such corporation.
2. The balance of the retained percentage of such pool and of the breaks shall be held by such corporation for its own use and purposes, except that in addition to any payments to purses provided for in subdivision one of this section, an amount equal to two and one-half per centum of the total pools resulting from on-track regular bets and exotic bets and an amount equal to three and one-half per centum of the total pools resulting from on-track multiple bets and an amount equal to twelve per centum of on-track super exotic bets shall be used exclusively for the purpose of increasing purses (including stakes, premiums and prizes) awarded to horses in races conducted by such corporation. Such two and one-half per centum and three and one-half per centum shall be in addition to (i) four and one-half per centum of such total pools resulting from regular and multiple wagers and five and one-half per centum of such total pools resulting from exotic wagers, or (ii) the percentage of such total pools used for purses (including stakes, premiums and prizes) during the year nineteen hundred eighty-two, whichever is larger. Such percentage of the total pools mentioned in this subdivision shall be used for purses (including stakes, premiums and prizes) in races hereafter conducted by such corporation, and any portion not so used during any year shall be so used during the following year, failing which such portion shall be payable to the commissioner of taxation and finance as additional tax. The racing and wagering board shall report annually, on or before July first, to the director of the budget, the chairman of the senate finance committee and the chairman of the assembly ways and means committee the extent to which such corporation utilized and retained percentages and breakage for operations, maintenance, capital improvements, advertising and promotion, administration and general overhead and evaluate the effectiveness and make recommendations with respect to the application of the reduced rates of taxation as provided for in subdivision one of this section in accomplishing the objectives stated therein. Such report shall also specify the amount of such retained percentages and breakage used for investments not directly related to racing activities and such amounts used to declare dividends or other profit distributions, additions to capital stock, its sale and transfer and additions to retained earnings. Such reports shall also include an analysis of any such agreements or proposals to conduct or otherwise expand wagers authorized under article ten of this chapter and present its conclusions with respect to the conduct of such wagering, the nature of such proposals and agreements, and recommendations to ensure the future maintenance of the intent of this article.
3. Tax rates in event of a failure to maintain pari-mutuel racing activity. a. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, for any calendar year commencing on or after January first, nineteen hundred eighty-nine, in which a racing corporation in zone two does not conduct a minimum number of pari-mutuel programs and pari-mutuel races at its facilities equal to at least ninety per centum of the programs and races so conducted during nineteen hundred eighty-five or during nineteen hundred eighty-six, whichever is less, in lieu of the tax rates set forth in subdivision one of this section the applicable pari-mutuel tax rates for such corporation with respect to on-track pari-mutuel betting pools during such year shall be increased by one per centum of regular, multiple and exotic betting pools. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase shall be proposed unless such corporation has been afforded notice and opportunity to be heard. The racing and wagering board shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions relating to notice and hearing. b. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to a corporation for any calendar year for which the state racing and wagering board certifies to the commissioner of taxation and finance:
1. (i) by December fifteenth of the year immediately preceding such year, that such corporation has been assigned for such year, from the programs and races it requested, at least the minimum number of programs and races prescribed in paragraph a of this subdivision, or, if fewer than such number were assigned for such year, that the assignment of such lesser number was for good cause due to factors beyond the control of such corporation or because the board found that it would be uneconomical or impractical for such corporation to be assigned the prescribed number; and
2. (ii) by January thirty-first of the year immediately subsequent to such year, that such corporation did conduct such number of programs and races as were certified pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, or if it failed to conduct such number that such failure was for good cause due to factors beyond its control or because the board found it uneconomical or impractical for such corporation to conduct such a number. c. For any calendar year for which the state racing and wagering board does not certify pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (i) of paragraph b of this subdivision with respect to a corporation, the tax imposed by this section shall be computed by substituting the provisions of paragraph a of this subdivision for the provisions of subdivision one of this section and shall pay the tax so computed to the commissioner of taxation and finance. In such computation and payment, all other provisions of this section shall apply as if the provisions of this paragraph and of paragraph a of this subdivision had been incorporated in whole in subdivision one of this section. d. For any calendar year for which the state racing and wagering board does not certify pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph b of this subdivision with respect to a corporation, the tax required to be paid hereunder for such year shall be equal to the difference between the tax imposed pursuant to paragraph a of this subdivision and the tax imposed pursuant to the provisions of subdivision one of this section less one-half of such difference in recognition of purses which were required to be paid, plus an additional amount equal to ten per centum of such tax in the event of a willful failure to comply with the provisions of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph b of this subdivision, and such corporation shall pay the tax so computed to the commissioner of taxation and finance on or before March fifteenth of the following year. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, in the event that upon appeal from the determination of the state racing and wagering board that the certification provided in paragraph b of this subdivision will not be made, it is finally determined that such board was erroneous in failing to so certify and that any moneys received by the commissioner of taxation and finance under paragraph c of this subdivision were paid in error, the same shall be refunded at the rate of interest of six percent per annum. Payment of such balance of tax due, or the anticipation of such payment, shall not affect the determination of purses in the year in which such tax arises or in the year in which such payment is made nor shall such payment in any other manner be considered in any statutory or contractual calculation of purse obligations. e. Written notice of the certification of the board pursuant to the provisions of paragraph b of this subdivision shall be given by the board to the applicable corporation by the dates therein specified. In like manner, written notice that such certification will not be made shall be given by the board to the commissioner of taxation and finance and the applicable corporation by such dates.
4. The payment of the state tax imposed by this section shall be made to the commissioner of taxation and finance on the last business day of each month and shall cover taxes due for the period from the sixteenth day of the preceding month through the fifteenth day of the current month provided, however, that such payments required to be made on March thirty-first shall include all taxes due and accruing through the last full week of racing in March of the current year or as otherwise determined by the commissioner of taxation and finance, and shall be accompanied by a report under oath, showing the total of all such contributions, together with such other information as the commissioner of taxation and finance may require. A penalty of five per centum and interest at the rate of one per centum per month from the date the report is required to be filed to the date of payment of the tax shall be payable in case any tax imposed by this section is not paid when due. If the commissioner of taxation and finance determines that any moneys received under this subdivision were paid in error, the commissioner of taxation and finance may cause the same to be refunded without interest out of any moneys collected thereunder, provided an application therefor is filed with the commissioner of taxation and finance within one year from the time the erroneous payment was made. Such taxes, interest and penalties when collected, after the deduction of refunds of taxes erroneously paid, shall be paid by the commissioner of taxation and finance into the general fund of the state treasury.
5. No county, city, town, village or other political subdivision of the state may impose, levy or collect a tax on admission fees or tickets of admission, on wagers made by patrons, in the form of purchases of pari-mutuel tickets or upon such tickets, on pari-mutuel pools, on breaks, on dividends or payments made to winning bettors, or on that part of the pari-mutuel pools or breaks to be retained by racing corporations under this section, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.