(1)(a) Except as provided in this section, permits and licenses issued by the commission are intended to be used for pari-mutuel wagering operations in conjunction with horseraces, dograces, or jai alai performances.
(b) Subject to the requirements of this section, the commission is authorized to issue permits for the conduct of horseracing meets without pari-mutuel wagering or any other form of wagering being conducted in conjunction therewith. Such permits shall be known as nonwagering permits and may be issued only for horseracing meets. A horseracing permitholder need not obtain an additional permit from the commission for conducting nonwagering racing under this section, but must apply to the commission for the issuance of a license under this section. The holder of a nonwagering permit is prohibited from conducting pari-mutuel wagering or any other form of wagering in conjunction with racing conducted under the permit. Nothing in this subsection prohibits horseracing for any stake, purse, prize, or premium.
(c) The holder of a nonwagering permit is exempt from the provisions of s. 550.105 and is exempt from the imposition of daily license fees and admission tax.
(2)(a) Any person not prohibited from holding any type of pari-mutuel permit under s. 550.1815 shall be allowed to apply to the commission for a nonwagering permit. The applicant must demonstrate that the location or locations where the nonwagering permit will be used are available for such use and that the applicant has the financial ability to satisfy the reasonably anticipated operational expenses of the first racing year following final issuance of the nonwagering permit. If the racing facility is already built, the application must contain a statement, with reasonable supporting evidence, that the nonwagering permit will be used for horseracing within 1 year after the date on which it is granted. If the facility is not already built, the application must contain a statement, with reasonable supporting evidence, that substantial construction will be started within 1 year after the issuance of the nonwagering permit.
(b) The commission may conduct an eligibility investigation to determine if the applicant meets the requirements of paragraph (a).
(3)(a) Upon receipt of a nonwagering permit, the permitholder must apply to the commission before June 1 of each year for an annual nonwagering license for the next succeeding calendar year. Such application must set forth the days and locations at which the permitholder will conduct nonwagering horseracing and must indicate any changes in ownership or management of the permitholder occurring since the date of application for the prior license.
(b) On or before August 1 of each year, the commission shall issue a license authorizing the nonwagering permitholder to conduct nonwagering horseracing during the succeeding calendar year during the period and for the number of days set forth in the application, subject to all other provisions of this section.
(c) The commission may conduct an eligibility investigation to determine the qualifications of any new ownership or management interest in the permit.
(4) Upon the approval of racing dates by the commission, the commission shall issue an annual nonwagering license to the nonwagering permitholder.
(5) Only horses registered with an established breed registration organization, which organization shall be approved by the commission, shall be raced at any race meeting authorized by this section.
(6) The commission may order any person participating in a nonwagering meet to cease and desist from participating in such meet if the commission determines the person to be not of good moral character in accordance with s. 550.1815. The commission may order the operators of a nonwagering meet to cease and desist from operating the meet if the commission determines the meet is being operated for any illegal purpose.
History.—s. 45, ch. 92-348; s. 14, ch. 95-390; s. 40, ch. 2022-7.
Structure Florida Statutes
Title XXXIII - Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Investments, and Solicitations
Chapter 550 - Pari-Mutuel Wagering
550.0115 - Permitholder Operating License.
550.01215 - License Application; Periods of Operation; License Fees; Bond.
550.0235 - Limitation of Civil Liability.
550.0251 - Powers and Duties of the Florida Gaming Control Commission.
550.0351 - Charity Racing Days.
550.0425 - Minors Attendance at Pari-Mutuel Performances; Restrictions.
550.054 - Application for Permit to Conduct Pari-Mutuel Wagering.
550.0555 - Greyhound Dogracing Permits; Relocation Within a County; Conditions.
550.0651 - Elections for Ratification of Permits; Municipal Prohibitions.
550.0745 - Summer Jai Alai Permit Periods of Operation.
550.0951 - Payment of Daily License Fee and Taxes; Penalties.
550.09511 - Jai Alai Taxes; Abandoned Interest in a Permit for Nonpayment of Taxes.
550.09512 - Harness Horse Taxes; Abandoned Interest in a Permit for Nonpayment of Taxes.
550.09514 - Greyhound Dogracing Taxes; Purse Requirements.
550.09515 - Thoroughbred Horse Taxes; Abandoned Interest in a Permit for Nonpayment of Taxes.
550.125 - Uniform Reporting System; Bond Requirement.
550.135 - Division of Moneys Derived Under This Law.
550.1645 - Escheat to State of Abandoned Interest in or Contribution to Pari-Mutuel Pools.
550.1646 - Credit for Unclaimed Property Remitted to State.
550.1647 - Greyhound Permitholders; Unclaimed Tickets; Breaks.
550.175 - Petition for Election to Revoke Permit.
550.2415 - Racing of Animals Under Certain Conditions Prohibited; Penalties; Exceptions.
550.255 - Penalty for Conducting Unauthorized Race Meeting.
550.2614 - Distribution of Certain Funds to a Horsemen’s Association.
550.2625 - Horseracing; Minimum Purse Requirement, Florida Breeders’ and Owners’ Awards.
550.2633 - Horseracing; Distribution of Abandoned Interest in or Contributions to Pari-Mutuel Pools.
550.2704 - Jai Alai Tournament of Champions Meet.
550.334 - Quarter Horse Racing; Substitutions.
550.3345 - Conversion of Quarter Horse Permit to a Limited Thoroughbred Permit.
550.3355 - Harness Track Licenses for Summer Quarter Horse Racing.
550.3551 - Transmission of Racing and Jai Alai Information; Commingling of Pari-Mutuel Pools.
550.3616 - Racing Greyhounds or Other Dogs Prohibited; Penalty.
550.375 - Operation of Certain Harness Tracks.
550.475 - Lease of Pari-Mutuel Facilities by Pari-Mutuel Permitholders.
550.495 - Totalisator Licensing.
550.505 - Nonwagering Permits.
550.5251 - Florida Thoroughbred Racing; Certain Permits; Operating Days.
550.615 - Intertrack Wagering.
550.625 - Intertrack Wagering; Purses; Breeders’ Awards.
550.6305 - Intertrack Wagering; Guest Track Payments; Accounting Rules.
550.6308 - Limited Intertrack Wagering License.
550.6315 - Applicability of S. 565.02(5) to Guest Tracks.
550.6325 - Uncashed Tickets and Breakage Tax.
550.6345 - Intertrack Wagering; Purses When Host Track Is Harness Racetrack.
550.71 - Operation of Ch. 96-364.
550.901 - Interstate Compact on Licensure of Participants in Pari-Mutuel Wagering.
550.903 - Definitions; Interstate Compact on Licensure of Participants in Pari-Mutuel Wagering.
550.905 - States Eligible to Join Compact.
550.906 - Withdrawal From Compact; Impact on Force and Effect.
550.908 - Powers and Duties of Compact Committee.
550.909 - Voting Requirements.
550.910 - Administration and Management.
550.911 - Immunity From Liability for Performance of Official Responsibilities and Duties.