Subchapter B. LICENSES
Sec.
165.11. License required to conduct thoroughbred race meets with pari-mutuel wagering.
165.12. Location of plant.
165.13. Filing of information concerning stock transfers.
165.14. Number of racing days.
165.15. Application for license.
165.16. Hearings.
165.17. Advertisement of filing application.
165.18. Issuance of license.
165.19. Knowledge of rules.
165.20. Stock certificates.
165.21. Accounting system.
165.22. Financial reports.
165.23. Reports.
165.24. Filing of agreements and approval of contracts.
165.25. Night racing.
165.26. Admission of minors.
165.27. Passes.
165.28. Telephones.
165.29. Employes of an association.
165.30. Concessionaires.
165.31. Occupational and participation licenses.
165.32. Information.
165.33. Prohibition of interest by public officers, public employes and party officers in pari-mutuel racing activities.
165.34. Refusal to issue, suspension and revocation of corporation license.
165.35. Refusal to issue, suspension and revocation of occupational or participation license.
165.36. Temporary license.
165.37. Fines and penalties.§ 165.11. License required to conduct thoroughbred race meets with pari-mutuel wagering.
No corporation organized pursuant to the act shall conduct any thoroughbred horse race meet with pari-mutuel wagering except on obtaining a license from the Commission.
§ 165.12. Location of plant.
No corporation shall conduct any thoroughbred horse race meet except at the location or locations designated in the license awarded by the Commission, which shall be the location or locations designated in its certificate of incorporation, provided, however, that this restriction shall not apply to any corporation whose plant or the usefulness thereof or of any material part thereof, shall, for any reason beyond the control of such corporation, be totally destroyed or so substantially damaged as to render it unfit for continued operation in which case, the Commission may, in its discretion, permit the corporation to conduct its meets at any other suitable location, pending the rebuilding or restoration of the plant so destroyed or damaged.
§ 165.13. Filing of information concerning stock transfers.
Where in every case provided for under section 4 of the act (15 P. S. § 2654) and § § 165.51—165.63 (relating to issuance and transfer of stock) duplicate affidavits are filed with a corporation relating to the issue or transfer of stock, the corporation shall within ten days after receipt of such affidavits file one of each of the duplicate affidavits received by it with the Commission. If the Commission determines that it is inconsistent with the public interest, convenience, or necessity, or with the best interest of racing generally, that any person, association, or corporation continue to be a stockholder of record or the beneficial owner of any interest in stock standing in the name of another, in any corporation licensed under the act, or of any corporation which leases to such licensee the track at which it conducts thoroughbred horse race meets with pari-mutuel wagering, or which owned 25% or more of the stock of such licensee, the Commission shall order each such stockholder or beneficial owner to dispose of his stock or interest therein within a period of time specified by the Commission, which period the Commission shall have full power and authority to extend from time to time.
§ 165.14. Number of racing days.
No corporation shall be licensed to conduct thoroughbred horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering for more than 100 days in any calendar year. The Commission shall approve and specify the dates and hours during which the corporation may conduct such racing. Where a race program is cancelled under § 163.341 (relating to duties of stewards) before the completion of a numerical majority of the races scheduled to be raced on such program, that racing day shall not be computed as within the 100 days limitation.
§ 165.15. Application for license.
Applications for licenses and applications for renewal of licenses to conduct thoroughbred horse race meets with pari-mutuel wagering shall be made, under oath, to the Commission in its approved form, at a time not later than the date designated by the Commission. A filing fee of $1,000 shall be submitted with each application, to be deposited to the credit of the State Horse Racing Fund, which filing fee will not be refundable.
§ 165.16. Hearings.
In its consideration of any application for a license to conduct thoroughbred horse race meets with pari-mutuel wagering, the Commission may conduct such hearings as it shall deem necessary to inquire into such matters as shall relate to the application filed with the Commission. The time and place of such meets, as well as any notice to be given thereof, shall be as designated by the Commission.
§ 165.17. Advertisement of filing application.
If the applicant for a license to conduct thoroughbred horse race meets with pari-mutuel wagering has not conducted any such meets at the location set forth in its application during the current year in which the application is filed with the Commission, the applicant shall publish one time in a newspaper of general circulation within the municipal subdivision in which it proposes to hold said meets, and also in the legal periodical for the county in which it proposes to hold said meets, and shall also post at not less than ten conspicuous places in the vicinity and at the location of the proposed meets, such places to be along public streets and highways and shall be clearly visible to the general public, a notice setting forth that applicant has or will file an application with the Commission for a license to conduct thoroughbred horse race meets with pari-mutuel wagering, the date of such filing, and a general description of the location of the proposed track, describing same in such manner as to afford the general public an adequate notice of said location. Said notice shall also set forth that any objections to said application by any interested persons must be filed with the Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, no later than the date fixed in said notice, which date shall be not less than ten days after the date of last advertisement of such notice, and shall further state that such objections shall be in writing, fully setting forth the reasons alleged for said objections. Proofs of publication and of posting said notice shall be filed with the Commission, together with a copy of the said notice.
§ 165.18. Issuance of license.
Upon receipt of an application satisfactory in form and substance to the Commission and upon its determination that a proper case for issuance of a license has been proven, the Commission shall grant its license for a term of days during the current year during which the applicant may conduct thoroughbred horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering. Such license shall specify the place where and the hours of the day or night during which racing and pari-mutuel wagering shall be held. The term of the license shall end not later than the 15th day of November next succeeding the granting thereof. In considering an application for a license, the Commission may, among other things, give consideration to the number of licenses already granted; the character, experience, and general fitness of the officers, directors, members, stockholders, or persons having a beneficial ownership in applicant; the corporation, if any, owning stock in or which shares in the profits or participates in the management of the affairs of the applicant, or which leases to such applicant the plant where it shall operate; the financial responsibility of the applicant; plant facilities; location of plant; equipment to be used in the plant; the personnel to be employed by applicant; policy plants; the public interest, convenience, or necessity and the best interests of racing generally. The Commission will furthermore give consideration to all of the answers made by the applicant to questions contained in the application, and to all other matters presented by the applicant to the Commission, and appearing in its records.
§ 165.19. Knowledge of rules.
All corporations, their officers, agents and employes are responsible for the conduct of their meetings and shall make certain that all officers, agents, and employes are thoroughly familiar with the provisions of the pertinent law and the rules and regulations of the Commission and of the Department of Revenue.
§ 165.20. Stock certificates.
(a) Each certificate of stock issued by any corporation which holds any license from the Commission, or of any firm, association, or corporation which owns or leases to any licensed association, or corporation a race track at which pari-mutuel thoroughbred racing is conducted, or of any firm, association, or corporation which participates in the management of any corporation which holds any license from the Commission, shall have plainly and prominently imprinted upon its face the following language:
The person whose name is indicated as the owner of the shares of stock represented by this certificate is the sole and absolute owner thereof, and such owner is not holding the shares of stock or any portion of the shares of stock represented by said certificate in trust for any person, partnership, firm or corporation whatsoever, who or which is prohibited from owning such shares of stock by the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horse Racing Law. This certificate of stock is transferable only subject to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horse Racing Law and the Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission.
(b) If any of the shares of stock represented by a certificate of stock are held subject to the terms of either an inter vivos or testamentary trust for the benefit of any person who could lawfully own such stock in his own name, such fact shall be so noted on the face of the certificate and a copy of the instrument which created the trust shall be attached thereto. A duplicate copy of the instrument which created the trust shall be filed by the licensee with the Commission.
§ 165.21. Accounting system.
All licensees must adopt the uniform system of accounts and reporting which will be furnished to such licensees by the Department of Revenue.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 165.24 (relating to filing of agreements and approval of contracts).
§ 165.22. Financial reports.
(a) The licensee must maintain separate general ledgers and books of original entries for each calendar or fiscal year. The following financial reports must be submitted to the Commission at the close of each licensee’s racing meet and at the close of the licensee’s fiscal year:
(1) Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
(2) Statement of Profit and Loss and Surplus.
(b) Interim reports must be submitted to the Commission and must include all operations for the current period and shall be filed within 90 days of the end of each of the first three calendar quarters of the calendar or fiscal year.
(c) Annual reports are to include all operations for the licensee’s calendar or fiscal year, are to be audited, and must be filed with the Commission concurrently with the filing of the licensee’s Federal income tax return in each succeeding year.
(d) All reports must be verified under oath by at least two of the licensee’s principal officers, and by the persons actually preparing the reports.
(e) Separate records of each bank reconciliation must be maintained by the licensee in a manner which will clearly indicate all reconciling items between the balance per the bank statement and the balance per the licensee’s books at the date of reconciliation.
Source The provisions of this § 165.22 amended November 7, 1980, effective November 8, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 4299. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (51708).
§ 165.23. Reports.
All licensees are required to submit to the Commission the following:
(1) Copies of weekly payrolls of all personnel employed at the track during the race meet, including the state license number, if any, address and title of each employe.
(2) Copies of all written contracts and agreements and a summary of all verbal contracts and agreements.
(3) List of stockholders annually, or as the Commission may require.
(4) List of officers and directors and compensation paid to each or as the Commission may require. The Commission shall be notified forthwith of any change in the officers, stockholders, and directors of a licensee.
§ 165.24. Filing of agreements and approval of contracts.
In addition to the reports required under § 165.21 (relating to accounting system), every corporation licensed shall promptly, after entering into any lease agreement concerning any concession or any agreement regarding labor management, hiring of officers, employes or contractors, as specified by the Commission, or any such other contract, agreement or arrangements, as the Commission may from time to time prescribe, file with the Commission a true and correct copy thereof, or an accurate summary thereof, if oral. No contract may be entered into by any corporation with any third persons, including individuals, partnerships, corporations, profit or nonprofit unincorporated associations, or any combination of the above, without approval of the contract by the Commission. In the event approval of the contract is not obtained by licensee prior to its execution, the contract shall contain a provision which states that the contract will not be operative unless approved by the Commission.
§ 165.25. Night racing.
At all meets held at night, the post time of the last race shall be not later than 11:55 p.m. prevailing time. At that hour, regardless of the completion of the program, the Stewards shall cause the machines or other devices used for wagering to be locked. Licensees shall provide a lock control in the Stewards stand for that purpose.
§ 165.26. Admission of minors.
No corporation which is licensed by the Commission shall permit any person who is actually and apparently under 18 years of age to bet at a thoroughbred horse race meeting conducted by it and no such corporation shall permit any person who is actually and apparently between ten and 18 years of age to attend a thoroughbred horse race meeting conducted by it unless such person is accompanied by a parent or guardian and no such corporation shall permit any person who is actually and apparently under ten years of age to attend a thoroughbred horse race meeting conducted by it. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit persons under 18 years of age, who are legally employed, from being in and upon the race track premises for the purpose solely of engaging in the performance of their duties as employes. In no event shall a minor be permitted to wager upon any race, nor shall such minor be permitted to be in the area of the track other than that area in which his duties are to be performed. All corporations licensed by the Commission shall be responsible for establishing the administrative and security procedures necessary to enforce the provisions of this section at the tracks operated by them. Every licensee employing any minor shall be required to establish procedures necessary to assure compliance with the provisions of this section by any minor employed by such licensee.
§ 165.27. Passes.
A corporation licensed by the Commission shall not issue free passes, cards, or badges except to officers and employes of the licensee conducting the meet; members, officers and employes of the Commission; members of thoroughbred horse racing commissions of other states and foreign countries; officers and directors of the Thoroughbred Racing Association and the National Association of State Racing Commissioners; public officers engaged in the performance of their duties; persons actually employed and accredited by the press to attend meets; owners, stable managers, trainers, jockeys, concessionaires and other persons whose actual duties require their presence at the track, as approved by the Commission. A list of all persons to whom free passes, cards or badges are issued shall be filed with the Commission.
§ 165.28. Telephones.
All public telephones on the grounds of a corporation licensed shall be padlocked with the opening of the pari-mutuel windows for the sale of daily double tickets. Each corporation licensed shall provide ample telephone facilities upon the plant grounds. No public telephone calls shall be made or received after the public telephones are closed until after the last race of the program has been completed except by officials of the Commission and officials of the Department of Revenue in pursuance of their duties at the track, or by special permission of the Executive Secretary of the Commission or the State Steward, in which case such calls shall be made in the presence of a racing official or an official of the corporation licensed.
§ 165.29. Employes of an association.
At least 85% of the persons, exclusive of racing officials, employed each day in the operation and conduct of the pari-mutuel betting at thoroughbred horse race meets licensed by the Commission shall be citizens of the United States of America and residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for at least 2 years immediately prior to the commencement of their employment at the track, and every employe shall be required to execute and submit to the corporation by which he is employed, a duly verified affidavit setting forth his qualifications pursuant to this section.
§ 165.30. Concessionaires.
Any person, firm, association, group, or corporation which holds any concession, right, or privilege to perform any service or sell any article at any race track at which a corporation licensed by the Commission conducts race meets must submit to the Commission a copy of each report, advice or other document which that person, firm, association, group, or corporation furnishes or is required to furnish to the licensee in order to substantiate any commission rentals, service fees and similar financial or other arrangements between the parties. Any person, firm, association, group or corporation operating a concession, performing any service or selling any article at more than one licensed track must submit separate reports of his operation at each track.
(1) Financial statements. At the end of each meet such person, firm, association, group or corporation shall prepare and send to the Commission a record of its operations at the track in the form of a Profit and Loss Statement. Such report shall show the gross revenues derived from the meet, as well as all expenses paid or accrued during the same period. Income and expense items must be shown in detail in such reports; must be verified by at least two of the principal officers of the firm, association, or group, if an association, corporation or group, and by the one or more owners or proprietors thereof if not an association, corporation or group. Such report must be filed with the Commission within 30 days after the end of each individual meet. Within 75 days after the end of its calendar or fiscal year, all such persons, firm, association, corporation or group shall submit to the Commission, verified financial statements, including a Balance Sheet and a Statement of Profit and Loss, showing the combined operations for that year and the results of such operations for each specific thoroughbred horse race meet at which he, they or it, conducted business during the year.
(2) Reports. Such person, firm, association, corporation, or group, if requested, must submit to the Commission the following:
(i) Copies of weekly payrolls of all personnel employed at the track during its race meet, including address and title of each employe.
(ii) Copies of all written contracts and agreements and a summary of all verbal contracts and agreements.
(iii) List of stockholders annually or as the Commission may require.
(iv) List of officers and directors and compensation paid to each annually, or as the Commission may require.
(v) Upon the sale or transfer of any stock of any concessionaire at a licensed thoroughbred horse racing track, evidence of such sale or transfer must be transmitted to the Commission by affidavit verifying such transfer or sale containing such information as is required of stock transfers of licensed corporations.
§ 165.31. Occupational and participation licenses.
(a) No person or entity shall participate in the affairs of any corporation licensed by the Commission as director, officer, agent, employe or as the owner or holder of more than 10% interest of such license without first receiving a license from the Commission. ‘‘Ownership’’ or the ‘‘holding of an interest,’’ shall be deemed to include a legal or equitable interest involving the right to receipt of any profit, gain or other form of benefit or right of dominion arising from rights or proxy or other forms of voting control, straw, nominee, or dummy holdings, participation in voting trusts, shareholder agreements or pools, the holding of options, security interests, or assignments, pledges, redemptions or all rights of any other similar, direct or choate nature.
(b) No person shall participate in any thoroughbred horse race meet as a racing official, owner, trainer, assistant trainer, or in any other occupation as listed in § § 163.51—163.54, of otherwise or be the holder of any concession, or be an employe of a concessionaire, unless such person shall first have received a license from the Commission.
(c) Each corporation licensed by the Commission to conduct thoroughbred horse race meets shall prevent any person not holding an occupational or participation license from doing or performing any act or acts at the track maintained by such licensee or at which it conducts its meets, and it shall be the responsibility of the licensee to exclude any undesirable persons if directed by the Commission, or its representatives.
(d) Each occupational or participation license shall be for the period ending December thirty-first of the year in which the same shall be issued: provided, however, that the Commission may, pending final determination of any question, issue a temporary license upon such terms and conditions it may deem necessary, desirable or proper to effectuate the provisions of the act.
(e) An application for an occupational or participation license shall be made upon a form supplied by the Commission and shall be executed in the manner prescribed by the Commission. The Commission may issue written instructions as to the preparation and execution of applications for such licenses which instructions may be a part of, or separate from, the application form. Failure to comply with any such instructions shall be grounds for denial, suspension or revocation of such license.
(f) Each applicant for an occupational or participation license shall pay to the Commission such annual license fee as shall from time to time be prescribed by statute, rule or order. The fee shall be paid at the time of the filing of the application. No application for any license shall be accepted by the Commission unless accompanied by such necessary fee.
(g) Should such licensee lose a license or should such license be destroyed, such licensee may apply for a duplicate license by filing an affidavit on a form supplied by the Commission and the payment of a fee of $1.
Source The provisions of this § 165.31 amended April 14, 1978, effective April 15, 1978, 8 Pa.B. 1112.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 165.56 (relating to affidavit of beneficial owners other than a registered stockholder).
§ 165.32. Information.
Every corporation licensed by the Commission to conduct thoroughbred horse race meets shall furnish to the Commission at all times the current name, address and experience of the following employes:
(1) General Manager.
(2) Pari-mutuel Manager.
(3) Racing Secretary.
(4) Director of Racing.
(5) Clerk of the Course.
(6) Track Superintendent.
(7) Publicity Director.
(8) Race Announcer.
(9) Concession Managers.
(10) Admission Manager.
(11) Parking Superintendent.
(12) Stable Superintendent.
§ 165.33. Prohibition of interest by public officers, public employes, and party officers in pari-mutuel racing activities.
(a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) Public Officer—Every person elected to any public office of the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof.
(2) Public Employe—Every person employed by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof.
(3) Party Officer—The following members or officers of any political party:
(i) A member of a National Committee.
(ii) A chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer or counsel of a State committee or member of the executive committee of a State committee.
(iii) A county chairperson, vice-chairperson, counsel, secretary or treasurer of a county committee.
(iv) A city chairperson, vice-chairperson, counsel, secretary or treasurer of a city committee.
(b) A public officer, public employe or party officer as defined in subsection (a) may not:
(1) Hold a license to conduct a pari-mutuel from the Commission.
(2) Own or hold directly or indirectly any proprietary interest, stock or obligation of a firm, association or corporation:
(i) Which is licensed by the Commission to conduct pari-mutuel racing.
(ii) Which is licensed to conduct its occupation, trade or business at race tracks at which pari-mutuel race meets are conducted.
(iii) Which owns or leases to any licensed association or corporation a race track at which pari-mutuel racing is conducted.
(iv) Which participates in the management of any licensee conducting pari-mutuel racing.
(3) Hold an office or employment with a firm, association or corporation specified in this subsection, except that the prohibition set forth in this paragraph does not apply to a public employe (other than a police officer or paid employe of a police department, sheriff’s office, district attorney’s office or other law enforcement agency); provided, however, that the employment of employes of a political subdivision may be prohibited by ordinance, resolution or local law adopted by the local legislative body or other governing board of the political subdivision.
(4) Sell, or be a member of a firm or own 10% or more of the stock of a corporation which sells goods or services to a firm, association or corporation specified in paragraph (2).
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 165.34 (relating to refusal to issue, suspension and revocation of corporation license); and 58 Pa. Code § 165.35 (relating to refusal to issue, suspension and revocation of occupational or participation license).
§ 165.34. Refusal to issue, suspension and revocation of corporation license.
The Commission may refuse to grant a license, may suspend or revoke a license of a corporation if it determines that:
(1) The corporation has failed to abide by or enforce the provisions of the law or the rules and regulations of the Commission or the Department of Revenue.
(2) An officer, director, member or stockholder of a corporation applying for or holding a license or of a corporation which owns stock in or shares in the profits or participates in the management of the affairs of the corporation, or which leases to the corporation the track where it shall operate:
(i) Has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
(ii) Has engaged in bookmaking or other form of illegal gambling.
(iii) Has been found guilty of fraud or misrepresentation in connection with racing or breeding.
(iv) Has been guilty of a violation or attempt to violate a law, rule or regulation of racing in a jurisdiction, for which suspension from racing might be imposed in the jurisdiction.
(v) Has violated a rule, regulation or order of the Commission.
(3) The experience, character or general fitness of an officer, director or stockholder of a corporation is such that the participation of the person in thoroughbred horse racing or related activity would be inconsistent with the public interest, convenience or necessity or with the best interests of racing generally.
(4) The corporation falsified answers or makes misrepresentations to the Commission in its application for license or in another document required to be filled by the corporation under the law or this part.
(5) The corporation has failed to properly maintain its track and plant in good condition or has failed to make adequate provisions for rehabilitation and capital improvements to its track and plant.
(6) The corporation has issued or caused to be issued false or misleading advertisement.
(7) The corporation or its officers or directors shall knowingly or carelessly permit on its grounds or within the enclosure of its race track, lotteries, pool selling, touting or bookmaking or any other kind of gambling in violation of law.
(8) The corporation has aided or knowingly permitted or conspired to permit a public officer, public employe or party officer as defined in § 165.33 (relating to prohibition of interest by public officers, public employes, party officers in pari-mutuel racing activities) to acquire or retain any stock interest in or hold an office or employment with the corporation.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 165.36 (relating to temporary license).
§ 165.35. Refusal to issue, suspension and revocation of occupational or participation license.
The Commission may refuse to grant a license, may suspend or revoke a license of an occupational or participation licensee, including racing officials, if it determines:
(1) That the experience, character and general fitness of the applicant or licensee are such that the participation of the person in thoroughbred horse race meets will be inconsistent with the public interest, the best interests of racing generally.
(2) That the applicant or licensee:
(i) Has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
(ii) Has engaged in bookmaking or other forms of illegal gambling.
(iii) Has been found guilty of fraud in connection with racing or breeding.
(iv) Has been guilty of a violation or attempt to violate a law, rule or regulation of a racing jurisdiction for which suspension from racing might be imposed in the jurisdiction.
(v) Has violated or failed to follow this part or order of the Commission.
(vi) Has falsified answers or made misrepresentations to the Commission in his application for a license.
(vii) Is incompetent.
(viii) In the case of racing officials, has consumed alcoholic beverages within 4 hours prior to the time they are required to perform their duties as officials.
(3) That the applicant or licensee has aided or knowingly permitted or conspired to permit a public officer, public employe or party officer as defined in § 165.33 (relating to prohibition of interest by public officers, public employes and party officers in pari-mutuel racing activities) to acquire or retain stock interest in or hold an office or employment with the applicant or licensee.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 165.36 (relating to temporary license).
§ 165.36. Temporary license.
Pending final determination of a question under § § 165.34 and 165.35 (relating to refusal to issue, suspension and revocation of corporation license; and refusal to issue, suspension and revocation of occupational or participation license), the Commission may issue a temporary license upon the terms as it may deem necessary or proper to effectuate the law.
§ 165.37. Fines and penalties.
The Commission may impose fines on a corporation, association or person participating in a thoroughbred horse race meet at which pari-mutuel wagering is conducted, other than as a patron, and whether licensed or not by the Commission, for a violation of the law or this part. The fine may not exceed $5,000 for each violation.
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