PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-02-080.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 260-48-935 Choose (n) pools, which will authorize another form of parimutuel wagering in which bettors attempt to select the winners of a specific number of races (n).
Hearing Location(s): Auburn City Council Chambers, 25 West Main, Auburn, WA 98001, on July 13, 2006, at 9:30 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: July 13, 2006.
Submit Written Comments to: Robert J. Lopez, 6326 Martin Way, Suite 209, Olympia, WA 98516-5578, e-mail rlopez@whrc.state.wa.us, fax (360) 459-6461, by July 10, 2006.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Patty Sorby by July 10, 2006, TTY (360) 459-6462.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This is a new section being added to chapter 260-48 WAC, Mutuels, which when adopted will authorize another form of parimutuel wagering in which the bettor attempts to select the winners of a specific number of races (n).
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Has the potential of enhancing the handle by offering a new form of parimutuel wagering in which the bettor can "choose" and specific number of races (n) and attempt to select the winner of these (n) races.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 67.16.020.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: NW Racing Association (Emerald Downs), public.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Robert J. Lopez, 6326 Martin Way, Suite 209, Olympia, WA 98516-5578, (360) 459-6462; Implementation and Enforcement: Robert M. Leichner, 6326 Martin Way, Suite 209, Olympia, WA 98516-5578, (360) 459-6462.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Not applicable.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Not applicable.
May 22, 2006
R. M. Leichner
Executive Secretary
OTS-8785.3
NEW SECTION
WAC 260-48-935
Choose (n) pools.
(1) The choose (n) is
a form of parimutuel wagering, in which bettors attempt to
select the winners of a specific number of races (n). The
choose (n) pool must be held separately from all other pools
and will in no way be part of a daily double, exacta, trifecta
or any other wagering pool. The choose (n) is a pool wherein
the bettor is required to select any (n) winning horses from
that particular card and is not a parlay (a wager using the
proceeds of a previous winning bet).
(2) The association must obtain written approval from the executive secretary concerning the format and scheduling of choose (n) contests, the races in which choose (n) wagering will be permitted, and the amount of any cap to be set on the carryover. The choose (n) pool must close after each race but will reopen with respect to subsequent races that have not yet been run provided that there are at least as many races remaining as required to be selected on a winning choose (n) ticket. Once approved, any changes will require approval from the executive secretary.
(3) The number of races in a choose (n) pool is designated by the association, while the specific races wagered on are at the discretion of the bettor. The races need not be consecutive and the first race of a choose (n) ticket may begin at any time provided that there are an adequate number of races left on the program. The bettor may purchase a choose (n) ticket allowing the bettor to select any (n) races from the entire card, unless the association has designated a race not eligible for the choose (n) pool.
(4) The choose (n) pool will be apportioned under one of the following methods:
(a) Method one - Choose (n) no carryover: The choose (n) "net wagering pool" will be equally distributed to the holder or holders of choose (n) tickets which correctly select (n) first place winners from the eligible races comprising the choose (n). If no choose (n) ticket correctly selects (n) first place winners from choose (n) eligible races, the "net wagering pool" of a choose (n) with no carryover amount will be equally distributed to the ticket holder or holders selecting the greatest number of first place winners of the races comprising the choose (n). If there are no winning wagers, the pool is refunded.
(b) Method two - Choose (n) with carryover: The choose (n) "net wagering pool" and carryover, if any, will be distributed as a single price pool to holders of choose (n) tickets which have correctly selected the winner of (n) races of the races comprising the choose (n). However, if no choose (n) ticket correctly selects the first place winner in (n) races comprising the choose (n), twenty-five percent of the net wagering pool for that particular choose (n) will be equally distributed to the holder or holders of choose (n) tickets correctly selecting the greatest number of first place winners of the races comprising the choose (n) and the remaining seventy-five percent of the net wagering pool for that particular choose (n) will be added as the "carryover amount" portion of the wagering pool for designated subsequent choose (n) offerings by the association. In any choose (n) with a "carryover amount" feature, one hundred percent of the "net wagering pool" for the particular choose (n) plus any accumulated "carryover amount," will be equally distributed to the holder or holders of choose (n) tickets which correctly select the first place winners in (n) races comprising the choose (n).
(5) The association will determine the denominations of the choose (n) tickets. No less than two or more than six races will comprise any choose (n) ticket.
(6) The choose (n) tickets must be clearly and immediately distinguishable from other parimutuel tickets.
(7) Those horses constituting an entry or field, as defined by rule, will race in any choose (n) race as a single wagering interest for purposes of the choose (n) pool calculations. A scratch after wagering has begun of any part of the entry or field selection in a race will have no effect on the status of such entry or field as a wagering interest.
(8) At any time after wagering begins on the choose (n) contest, should a horse, entire betting entry or field be scratched or declared a nonstarter in any choose (n) race, no further tickets selecting such horses, entry or field will be issued, and wagers upon such horse, entry or field for purposes of the choose (n) will be deemed wagers upon the horse, entry or field on which the most money has been wagered in the win pool at the close of win betting for such race. In the event that two horses have the exact amount wagered on them, the horse, entry or field with the lowest program number will be designated.
(9) In the event of a dead heat for win between two or more horses in any of the choose (n) races, all such horses will be considered as the winning horse for the purpose of distributing the choose (n) pool.
(10) The choose (n) pool with a carryover will be calculated as follows:
(a) One hundred percent of the net amount in the choose (n) pool subject to distribution among winning ticket holders must be distributed among holders of choose (n) tickets which have correctly selected the winner of (n) races of the races comprising the choose (n).
(b) In the event there is no choose (n) ticket which correctly designates the winner of (n) races from the races that comprise the choose (n), twenty-five percent of that racing date's net amount available for distribution must be distributed among the holders of choose (n) tickets correctly designating the most winning selections of the races that comprise the choose (n), and the remaining seventy-five percent of said pool must be carried over and added to the pool on the next day that the wager is conducted.
(c) If, on the last day on which the choose (n) is conducted at a horse race meeting, no one selects the winning horse in (n) races, the total amount of the choose (n) pool which exists on that day must be paid to the bettor or bettors selecting the largest number of winning horses in those races. In no event will any part of the pool be carried over to the next year's race meeting, except for reasons beyond the control of the licensee and upon the approval of the executive secretary. If, for any reason, the choose (n) carryover must be held over to the corresponding choose (n) pool of a subsequent meet, the carryover will be deposited in an interest-bearing account approved by the executive secretary. The choose (n) carryover plus accrued interest will then be added to the net choose (n) pool of the following meet on a date and performance so designated by the executive secretary.
(11) When the distance of the race is changed or the condition of the turf course warrants a change of racing surface in any of the races open to choose (n) wagering, and such change has not been made known to the betting public prior to the close of wagering for the first choose (n) race, the stewards will declare the changed races a "no contest" for choose (n) wagering purposes and the pool will be distributed in accordance with subsection (10) of this section. Following the designation of a race as a "no contest," no tickets may be sold selecting a horse in such "no contest" race. Any race that has been canceled or declared a "no contest" may not be considered a contested race for choose (n) purposes.
(12) If, for any reason, one or more races are canceled or declared a "no contest," the choose (n) pool will be paid using the following formula:
(a) Choose two: Any live ticket regardless of its starting point that has not completed at least two contested legs will be refunded. After two or more races have run, one hundred percent of the daily pool plus any carryover will be distributed in accordance with subsection (10) of this section.
(b) Choose three: Any ticket regardless of its starting point that has not completed at least three contested legs will be refunded. After three or more races have run: One hundred percent of the daily pool plus any carryover must be distributed in accordance with subsection (10) of this section.
(c) Choose four: Any ticket regardless of its starting point that has not completed at least four contested legs must be refunded. After four or more races have run: One hundred percent of the daily pool plus any carryover must be distributed in accordance with subsection (10) of this section.
(d) Choose five: Any ticket regardless of its starting point that has not completed at least four contested legs must be refunded.
(i) In the event that only four choose five races are contested: One hundred percent of that day's net pool (not including any carryover), after refunds, will be paid to tickets with four wins and no losses.
(ii) In the event that at least five races have been contested for the choose five: Seventy-five percent of that day's net pool (after refunds) plus any carryover will be paid to tickets with five wins and twenty-five percent of the pool will be paid to tickets with four wins and no losses. In the event no ticket has five wins, seventy-five percent of the daily pool will be paid to tickets with four wins and a selection in the canceled race and twenty-five percent paid to tickets with three wins and a selection in two of the canceled races.
(e) Choose six: Any ticket regardless of its starting point that has not completed at least four contested legs must be refunded.
(i) In the event only four choose six races are contested: One hundred percent of the day's net pool (not including any carryover) after refunds, must be paid to tickets with four wins.
(ii) In the event that only five choose six races are contested: Seventy-five percent of the daily pool (after refunds) will be paid to tickets with five wins and twenty-five percent to tickets with four wins and no losses and a selection in the noncontested race.
(iii) In the event that at least six races have been contested for the choose six and two or more races have not been contested: Seventy-five percent of the daily pool plus any carryover must be paid to tickets with six wins, eighteen and three-quarter percent of the daily pool to tickets with five wins and a selection in a noncontested race, and six and one-quarter percent of the daily pool will be paid to tickets with four wins and selections in two of the noncontested races. If no ticket has six wins, fifty percent of the daily pool must be paid to tickets with five wins and a selection in a noncontested race, twenty-five percent of the daily pool to tickets with four wins and selections in two noncontested races, and twenty-five percent of the daily pool to tickets with five wins and one loss.
(iv) In the event that at least six races have been contested for the choose six and one race has not been contested: Seventy-five percent of the daily pool plus any carryover must be paid to tickets with six wins and twenty-five percent of the daily pool to tickets with five wins and a selection in the noncontested race. If no ticket has six wins, seventy-five percent of the daily pool must be paid to tickets with five wins and a selection in the noncontested race and twenty-five percent of the daily pool to tickets with five wins and one loss.
(v) In the event that there is no payable ticket in a category within any of these subsections, that portion of the daily pool will be divided equally between the other categories within that subsection. In the event that there is no payable ticket within a subsection, the entire daily pool will be carried over and added to the choose (n) pool on the next day that the choose (n) wagering is conducted.
(13) When there is a cancellation of the race card or a race is declared a no contest and there are any changes in the calculation of the choose (n) other than provided for in subsection (12) of this section, the change must be approved in writing by the executive secretary.
(14) If, for any reason, the race card is canceled, wagering on the choose (n) pool must close immediately and the choose (n) pool must be distributed in accordance with subsection (12) of this section.
(15) The choose (n) carryover may be capped at a designated level approved by the executive secretary so that if at the close of any performance, the amount in the choose (n) carryover equals or exceeds the designated cap, the choose (n) carryover will be frozen until it is won or distributed under other provisions of this rule. After the choose (n) carryover is frozen, one hundred percent of the net pool, part of which would ordinarily be added to the choose (n) carryover, must be equally distributed to the ticket holder or holders selecting the greatest number of first place winners of the races comprising the choose (n) for that performance.
(16) A written request for permission to distribute the choose (n) carryover on a specific performance may be submitted to the executive secretary. The request must contain justification for the distribution, an explanation of the benefit to be derived, and the intended date and performance for the distribution.
(17) Should the choose (n) carryover be designated for distribution on a specified date and performance in which there are no wagers with (n) wins, the entire pool must be distributed as a single price pool to those whose selection finished first in the greatest number of choose (n) contests. The choose (n) carryover will be designated for distribution on a specified date and performance only under the following circumstances:
(a) Upon written approval from the executive secretary as provided in subsection (16) of this section.
(b) Upon written approval from the executive secretary when there is a change in the carryover cap, a change from one type of choose (n) wagering to another, or when the choose (n) is discontinued.
(c) On the closing performance of the meet or split meet.
(18) With the written approval of the executive secretary, the association may contribute to the choose (n) carryover a sum of money up to the amount of any designated cap.
(19) All choose (n) rules and methods of calculations must be available and posted for the bettors by the association.
(20) It is a violation of these rules for any person to provide information to any individual regarding covered combinations or amounts wagered on specific combinations. This rule is not intended to prohibit necessary communication between totalisator and parimutuel department employees for processing of pool data. The association may be permitted to provide information regarding number of tickets sold and number of live tickets remaining to the wagering public.
(21) The association may suspend previously approved choose (n) wagering with the prior approval of the executive secretary. Any carryover will be held until the suspended choose (n) wagering is reinstated. An association may request approval of a choose (n) wager or separate wagering pool for specific performances.
(22) Should circumstances occur which are not addressed by these rules, the stewards will resolve them in accordance with general parimutuel practice. Decisions regarding distribution of the choose (n) pool made by the stewards will be final.
[]