Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 226 - Gaming Policy, Regulation and Revenue
Section 12-575. - Pari-mutuel betting. Tax. Uncashed tickets. Payments to municipalities.

(a) Pari-mutuel betting permitted. The department may permit at racing events, exhibitions of the game of jai alai licensed under the provisions of this chapter or at off-track betting facilities, betting under a pari-mutuel system, so called, including standard pari-mutuel, daily double, exacta, quinella, trifecta, superfecta, twin trifecta, pick four and pick six betting, and such other forms of multiple betting as the department may determine.

(b) Operation of pari-mutuel system. The pari-mutuel system, so called, shall not be used or permitted at any location other than the race track at which the racing event is licensed to be conducted or the fronton at which the game of jai alai is licensed to be played or at an off-track betting facility operated by the department or by a licensee authorized to operate the off-track betting system. A computerized electronic totalizator system, approved by the commissioner, shall be used to conduct pari-mutuel wagering at each racing or jai alai event. A computerized electronic totalizator system approved by the commissioner and, where authorized by subsection (b) of section 12-571a, and approved by the commissioner, a simulcast system shall be used to conduct pari-mutuel wagering and simulcasting of off-track betting race programs at off-track betting facilities. The commissioner may require any licensee to submit information concerning the daily operation of such totalizator or simulcast system which he deems necessary for the effective administration of this chapter, including records of all wagering transactions, in such form and manner as he shall prescribe.
(c) Takeout. Purses, capital improvements and promotional marketing for dog racing. (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, each licensee conducting horse racing events under the pari-mutuel system shall distribute all sums deposited in any pari-mutuel program to the holders of winning tickets therein, less seventeen per cent of the total deposits plus the breakage to the dime of the amount so retained; each licensee conducting jai alai events shall distribute all sums deposited in any pari-mutuel program to the holders of winning tickets therein, less a maximum of eighteen per cent of the deposits in the win, place or show pools and less a maximum of twenty-three per cent of the deposits in all other pools plus the breakage to the dime of the amount so retained; each licensee conducting dog racing events shall distribute all sums deposited in any pari-mutuel program to the holders of winning tickets therein, less a maximum of nineteen per cent of the deposits in the win, place or show pools and less a maximum of twenty-seven per cent of the deposits in all other pools plus the breakage to the dime of the amount so retained, or, shall distribute all sums deposited in all of its pari-mutuel programs conducted on any day to the holders of winning tickets therein less twenty per cent of the total deposits plus the breakage to the dime of the amount so retained, provided on and after July 1, 1992, each licensee conducting dog racing events on July 5, 1991, shall allocate four per cent of all sums deposited in any pari-mutuel program to purses, one-quarter of one per cent to capital expenditures for alterations, additions, replacement changes, improvements or major repairs to or upon the property owned or leased by any such licensee and used for such racing events, and one-quarter of one per cent to promotional marketing, to reduce the costs of admission, programs, parking and concessions and to offer entertainment and giveaways. Each licensee conducting dog racing events shall, on an annual basis, submit to the department certified financial statements verifying the use of such allocations for purses, capital improvements and promotional marketing. (2) Each licensee conducting racing or jai alai events may carry over all or a portion of the sums deposited in any pari-mutuel program, less the amount retained as herein provided, in the twin trifecta, pick four or pick six pari-mutuel pool to another pool, including a pool in a succeeding performance.
(d) Tax: Horse racing. Each licensee conducting horse racing events under the pari-mutuel system shall pay to the state, and there is hereby imposed: (1) A tax on the total money wagered in the pari-mutuel pool on each and every day the licensee conducts racing events, pursuant to the following schedule:


and (2) a tax equal to one-half of the breakage to the dime resulting from such wagering. The commissioner shall by regulation adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 designate the percentage of the difference between the seventeen per cent specified in subsection (c) of this section and the tax specified in this subsection, which shall be allocated as prize or purse money for the horses racing at each facility.
(e) Tax: Dog racing. Each licensee conducting dog racing events under the pari-mutuel system shall pay to the state, and there is hereby imposed: (1) (A) A tax at the rate of two per cent on the total money wagered in the pari-mutuel pool on each and every day the licensee conducts racing events or (B) on or after July 1, 1993, in the case of any licensee licensed prior to July 5, 1991, (i) a tax at the rate of two per cent on any amount up to and including fifty million dollars of the total money wagered in the pari-mutuel pool in any state fiscal year during which a licensee licensed prior to July 5, 1991, conducts racing events, (ii) a tax at the rate of three per cent on any amount in excess of fifty million dollars and up to and including eighty million dollars of the total money wagered in the pari-mutuel pool in any state fiscal year during which a licensee licensed prior to July 5, 1991, conducts racing events, and (iii) a tax at the rate of four per cent on any amount in excess of eighty million dollars of the total money wagered in the pari-mutuel pool in any state fiscal year during which a licensee licensed prior to July 5, 1991, conducts racing events, and (2) a tax equal to one-half of the breakage to the dime resulting from such wagering.
(f) Tax: Jai alai. Each licensee operating a fronton at which the game of jai alai is licensed to be played under the pari-mutuel system shall pay to the state and there is hereby imposed: (1) (A) A tax at the rate of two per cent on any amount up to and including fifty million dollars of the total money wagered on such games, (B) a tax at the rate of three per cent of any amount in excess of fifty million dollars and up to and including eighty million dollars of the total money wagered on such games, and (C) a tax at the rate of four per cent on any amount in excess of eighty million dollars of the total money wagered on such games, and (2) a tax equal to one-half of the breakage to the dime resulting from such wagering.
(g) Tax: Off-track betting. The licensee authorized to operate the system of off-track betting under the pari-mutuel system shall pay to the state and there is hereby imposed: (1) A tax at the rate of three and one-half per cent on the total money wagered in the pari-mutuel pool on each and every day the licensee broadcasts racing events, and (2) a tax equal to one-half of the breakage to the dime resulting from such wagering.
(h) Tax: Assessment and payment. The commissioner shall assess and collect the taxes imposed by this chapter under such regulations as he may prescribe, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. All taxes hereby imposed shall be due and payable by the close of the next banking day after each day's racing or jai alai exhibition. If any such tax is not paid when due, the commissioner shall impose a delinquency assessment upon the licensee in the amount of ten per cent of such tax or ten dollars, whichever amount is greater, plus interest at the rate of one and one-half per cent of the unpaid principal of such tax for each month or fraction of a month from the date such tax is due to the date of payment. Subject to the provisions of section 12-3a, the commissioner may waive all or part of the penalties provided under this subsection when it is proven to his satisfaction that the failure to pay such tax within the time required was due to reasonable cause and was not intentional or due to neglect. Failure to pay any such delinquent tax upon demand may be considered by the commissioner as cause for revocation of license.
(i) Accounting. The commissioner shall devise a system of accounting and shall supervise betting at such track, fronton or off-track betting facility in such manner that the rights of the state are protected and shall collect all fees and licenses under such regulations as he shall prescribe, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(j) Unclaimed moneys. The amount of unclaimed moneys, as determined by the commissioner, held by any licensee other than by licensees authorized to operate a jai alai fronton, dog race track or the off-track betting system on account of outstanding and uncashed winning tickets, shall be due and payable to the commissioner, for deposit in the General Fund of the state, at the expiration of one year after the close of the meeting during which such tickets were issued. If any such unclaimed moneys are not paid when due, the commissioner shall impose a delinquency assessment upon the licensee in the amount of ten per cent of such moneys or ten dollars, whichever amount is greater, plus interest at the rate of one and one-half per cent of the unpaid principal of such moneys for each month or fraction of a month from the date such moneys are due to the date of payment. Subject to the provisions of section 12-3a, the commissioner may waive all or part of the penalties provided under this subsection when it is proven to his satisfaction that the failure to pay such moneys to the state within the time required was due to reasonable cause and was not intentional or due to neglect.
(k) Inspection. The commissioner may authorize deputies and the Commissioner of Revenue Services or his agents are authorized to enter upon the premises at any racing event, jai alai exhibition or off-track betting race event for the purpose of inspecting books and records, supervising and examining cashiers, ticket sellers, pool sellers and other persons handling money at said event and such other supervision as may be necessary for the maintenance of order at such event.
(l) Payments to municipalities. (1) The commissioner shall pay each municipality in which a horse race track is located, one-quarter of one per cent of the total money wagered on horse racing events at such race track, except the commissioner shall pay each such municipality having a population in excess of fifty thousand one per cent of the total money wagered at such horse racing events in such municipality. The commissioner shall pay each municipality in which a jai alai fronton or dog race track is located one-half of one per cent of the total money wagered on jai alai games or dog racing events at such fronton or dog race track, except the commissioner shall pay each such municipality having a population in excess of fifty thousand one per cent of the total money wagered on jai alai games or dog racing events at such fronton or dog race track located in such municipality. The commissioner shall pay each municipality in which an off-track betting facility is located one and three-fifths per cent of the total money wagered in such facility less amounts paid as refunds or for cancellations. The commissioner shall pay to both the city of New Haven and the town of Windsor Locks an additional one-half of one per cent of the total money wagered less any amount paid as a refund or a cancellation in any facility equipped with screens for simulcasting after October 1, 1997, located within a fifteen-mile radius of facilities in New Haven and Windsor Locks. Payment shall be made not less than four times a year and not more than twelve times a year as determined by the commissioner, and shall be made from the tax imposed pursuant to subsection (d) of this section for horse racing, subsection (e) of this section for dog racing, subsection (f) of this section for jai alai games and subsection (g) of this section for off-track betting. (2) If, for any calendar year after the surrender of a license to conduct jai alai events by any person or business organization pursuant to subsection (c) of section 12-574c and prior to the opening of any dog race track by such person or business organization, any other person or business organization licensed to conduct jai alai events is authorized to conduct a number of performances greater than the number authorized for such licensee in the previous calendar year, the commissioner shall pay the municipality in which the jai alai fronton for which such license was surrendered was located, rather than the municipality in which the jai alai fronton conducting the increased performances is located, one-half of one per cent of the total money wagered on jai alai games for such increased performances at the fronton which conducted the additional performances, except the commissioner shall pay each such municipality having a population in excess of fifty thousand one per cent of the total money wagered on jai alai games for such increased performances at such fronton. (3) During any state fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 1993, the commissioner shall pay each municipality in which a dog race track was operating prior to July 5, 1991, one per cent of the total money wagered on dog racing events at such dog race track. (4) During the state fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, each municipality in which a dog race track was operating prior to July 5, 1991, shall pay the Northeast Connecticut Economic Alliance, Inc. two-tenths of one per cent of the total money wagered on dog racing events at any dog race track operating prior to July 5, 1991. (5) In the event a licensee incurs a loss from the operation of a pari-mutuel facility, as determined by the commissioner, the legislative body of the city or town in which such facility is located may direct the commissioner to credit or rebate all or a part of the revenue otherwise due to the municipality back to the facility. In no case shall such credit and such reimbursement exceed the amount of the licensee's loss, and in no fiscal year shall these provisions affect the total fees paid to the state by the authorized operator of the off-track betting system on its off-track betting activities.
(1971, P.A. 865, S. 19; 1972, P.A. 187, S. 12; P.A. 73-401, S. 1, 2; P.A. 74-249, S. 2–6; P.A. 75-10, S. 1, 2; 75-567, S. 15, 80; P.A. 77-365, S. 1–5; 77-614, S. 139, 610; P.A. 79-404, S. 27, 45; P.A. 80-60; P.A. 82-163, S. 2, 3, 6; 82-284, S. 2–4; P.A. 83-227, S. 1–3; 83-301, S. 1–3; P.A. 85-471, S. 2, 4; P.A. 87-542, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-324, S. 2, 4; P.A. 91-309, S. 6–8, 10; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-17, S. 41, 59; P.A. 93-332, S. 35, 36, 42; P.A. 96-151, S. 2, 3; P.A. 97-277, S. 12, 13; P.A. 00-229, S. 6, 7; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 87, 131; P.A. 04-176, S. 2; P.A. 11-51, S. 182; P.A. 13-196, S. 7; 13-299, S. 73–75.)
History: 1972 act amended Subsec. (a) to include jai alai and dog racing, amended Subsec. (b) to include frontons and off-track betting facilities, amended Subsec. (c) to include fronton licensees and to require distribution of all sums deposited in pari-mutuel system to winners except for 17% plus breakage to the dime of amount retained, replacing previous provision for 8.5% tax to state on total money wagered plus tax equal to one-half of the breakage to the dime, inserted new Subsecs. (d) and (e) re payments to state by horse and dog racing licensees, relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly, and included references to jai alai in Subsecs. (f), (g) and (i), formerly (d), (e) and (g); P.A. 73-401 deleted reference to dog racing and perfecta betting and included daily double, exacta, superfecta and other forms of multiple betting in Subsec. (a), substituted “minor” for “any person under the age of eighteen” in Subsec. (b), replaced 8.5% tax and 5% tax on total wagered at horse and dog racing events with graduated tables in Subsecs. (d) and (e), inserted new Subsec. (f) re tax on jai alai operators, relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly, and amended Subsec. (g), formerly Subsec. (f), to require that taxes be paid at close of next banking day after event rather than at the close of the day of the event itself; P.A. 74-249 revised tables in Subsecs. (d) and (e) and raised tax rate on jai alai licensees from 5% to 5.25% of total amount wagered; P.A. 75-10 made minor change in wording of Subsec. (l); P.A. 75-567 revised table in Subsec. (e); P.A. 77-365 amended Subsec. (c) to require retention of 17% of wagered amount for horse racing events and 18% for dog racing and jai alai events, deleted table in Subsec. (e) and set tax at 8% of total wagered, amended Subsec. (f) to increase tax rate to 6.75% and amended Subsec. (l) to set varying rates for payments to municipalities dependent upon population and type of event; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of revenue services for tax commissioner, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-404 substituted “executive director” for “commission” and provided for gaming policy board to advise and oversee executive director's activities; P.A. 80-60 amended Subsec. (b) to include provisions re totalizator systems and deleted provision forbidding operators to admit minors to participation in pari-mutuel system; P.A. 82-163 amended Subsec. (g) so as to provide for penalty and interest re late payment of taxes by the licensee in any pari-mutuel betting facility in amounts and under conditions comparable to such provisions applicable with respect to other state taxes and amended Subsec. (i) so as to provide for penalty and interest re late payment of unclaimed moneys by the licensee in any pari-mutuel betting facility for deposit in the state general fund, in amounts and under conditions comparable to such provisions applicable with respect to all state taxes; P.A. 82-284 amended Subsec. (c) by increasing the take out for dog racing and requiring that an additional 0.25% be allocated to purses and amended Subsec. (e) by increasing the tax on dog racing by 0.25%; P.A. 83-227 amended Subsec. (a), permitting twin trifecta, pick four and pick six pari-mutuel wagers at racing and jai alai events and amended Subsec. (c), permitting licensees to carry-over all or part of the moneys not won in twin trifecta, pick four or pick six forms of multiple betting; P.A. 83-301 amended Subsec. (c), increasing for dog racing, the takeout rate deducted from total amount wagered, from 18.5% to 19%, and the amount each licensee allocates to purses, from 0.25% to 0.5%, and amended Subsec. (e), increasing for dog racing, the amount of state tax applicable to total money wagered and paid by licensees, from 8.25% to 8.5%; P.A. 85-471 added Subsec. (m) re payments to the Microchemistry Laboratory Fund; P.A. 87-542 amended Subsec. (c) to provide that, after July 1, 1987, the amount allocated to purses shall be increased from 0.5% to 3.5%, 0.25% shall be allocated to capital expenditures and 0.25% shall be allocated to promotional marketing and amended Subsec. (e) to reduce the state tax from 8.5% to 7.25%; P.A. 89-324 deleted former Subsec. (m) which had required executive director to pay Microchemistry Laboratory Fund 0.25% of money wagered on dog racing events due to repeal of said fund; P.A. 91-309 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to add a further proviso requiring Plainfield dog track, on and after July 1, 1992, to distribute all sums deposited in pari-mutuel program to winners except for 20% plus breakage to the dime of amount retained and allocate 4% of all sums to purses, 0.25% to capital expenditures and 0.25% to promotional marketing, divided Subsec. (e)(1) into Subparas. (A) and (B), inserting in Subpara. (B) new language providing for a sliding scale of taxation for Plainfield dog track effective on or after July 1, 1992, and divided Subsec. (l) into Subdivs. (1), (2) and (3), inserting in Subdiv. a requirement that executive director pay each municipality with a population over fifty thousand 1% of total money wagered on dog racing events at dog track located in such municipality, in Subdiv. (2), new language requiring executive director to make payments to Bridgeport if, for any calendar year after Bridgeport fronton surrenders its license to conduct jai alai and before opening of its dog track, Milford or Hartford fronton is authorized to conduct more performances than in previous calendar year, and in Subdiv. (3), new language requiring executive director to pay town of Plainfield 0.8% of total money wagered on dog racing events at Plainfield dog track and the Northeast Connecticut Economic Alliance, Inc. 0.2% of total money wagered on dog racing events at Plainfield dog track during any fiscal year ending on or after June 30, 1993; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-17 amended Subsec. (c) to increase the takeout rate for jai alai from 18% to a maximum of 20% until June 30, 1994, reestablishing such rate at 18% on and after July 1, 1994, and to provide that the takeout rate for dog racing remain at 19% until June 30, 1994; P.A. 93-332 amended Subsec. (a) to allow racing events or exhibitions of jai alai at off-track betting facilities, amended Subsec. (b) to authorize the use of a computerized electronic totalizator system and a simulcast system to conduct pari-mutuel wagering and to make changes re the operation of the off-track betting systems by an authorized licensee, added a new Subsec. (g) to impose a tax on the licensee authorized to operate the off-track betting system and relettered the remaining Subsecs. accordingly and made technical changes in Subsec. (i), (k) and (m) re allowing racing events or exhibitions of jai alai at off-track betting facilities and in Subsec. (m) added provision re payment of percentage of receipts to municipalities where off-track betting facilities are located, effective June 25, 1993, and also amended Subsec. (c) to increase amount of sums deposited in pari-mutuel program to be kept by licensees conducting dog racing events from 19% to 20% and deleted provisions requiring a specific percentage to be allocated to certain expenditures, amended Subsec. (e) decreasing the tax paid the state by licensees conducting dog racing events, amended Subsec. (f) to change the tax imposed on licensees operating jai alai frontons from 6.75% on the total money wagered to 2% on any amount up to and including $50,000,000 of the total money wagered and a tax of 3% of the total money wagered in excess of $50,000,000 and up to and including $80,000,000 and a tax of 4% on the total money wagered in excess of $80,000,000 and amended Subsec. (j) to make technical changes re operation of the off-track betting facilities by an authorized licensee, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 96-151 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to require financial statements annually rather than quarterly and amended Subsec. (j) to except licensees of jai alai frontons and dog race tracks from requirements re unclaimed moneys (“outs”), effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 97-277 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to change the takeout rate for licensees conducting jai alai events and licensees conducting dog racing events to a maximum of 18% of the deposits in the win, place or show pools and a maximum of 23% of the deposits in all other pools and Subsec. (m)(1) to increase from 1% to 1.6% of money wagered in an off-track betting facility the amount the executive director is required to pay municipalities with such a facility and to add requirement that executive director pay both New Haven and Windsor Locks additional 0.5% of total money wagered in any facility equipped for simulcasting after October 1, 1997, located within 15-mile radius of facilities in such city and town, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 00-229 amended Subsec. (m)(3) to increase from 0.8% to 1% the amount paid to municipalities that contain a dog race track, to eliminate provisions re payments to municipalities having a population in excess of 50,000 and re ongoing payments to the Northeast Connecticut Economic Alliance, and to provide that during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, each such municipality will pay 0.2% to the Northeast Connecticut Economic Alliance, effective July 1, 2000; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 added Subsec. (m)(5) re ability of legislative body of municipality to direct executive director of pari-mutuel facility with operational loss to credit or rebate to the facility all or part of revenues, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 04-176 amended Subsec. (c)(1) to require that licensees conducting dog racing events distribute sums deposited in pari-mutuel programs to holders of winning tickets, less a maximum of 19%, in lieu of 18%, of deposits in win, place or show pools and less a maximum of 27%, in lieu of 23%, of deposits in all other pools, effective June 1, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “executive director” and “division” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “commissioner” and “department”, respectively, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-196 deleted former Subsec. (l) re preparation and filing of statement of department's receipts with Treasurer and redesignated existing Subsec. (m) as Subsec. (l), effective June 21, 2013; P.A. 13-299 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute “department” for “board” and amended Subsecs. (d), (h) and (i) to delete provisions re advice and consent of the Gaming Policy Board and add references to Ch. 54 re adoption of regulations, effective July 1, 2013.
See chapter 226b re disclosure statements with regard to pari-mutuel betting.
Cited. 33 CS 167; 44 CS 126.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes