OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5545

AN ACT CONCERNING SIMULCASTING FACILITIES.

SUMMARY:

This bill allows all 18, instead of eight, of the off-track betting (OTB) facilities authorized under existing law to provide live audio and television coverage of OTB racing programs and jai alai games (i. e. , simulcast the events) and provide other amenities such as restaurants and concessions. To reflect the upgrade of the added facilities, the bill eliminates a provision allowing Division of Special Revenue (DSR) to authorize limited amenities, such as bench seating and public restrooms, in OTB facilities not authorized to simulcast events. The bill allows one of the authorized facilities to be located where the Plainfield dog track operates or operated, instead of within the dog track, to reflect the fact that the Plainfield facility is no longer conducting live dog racing.

Under current law, an OTB licensee must operate any OTB facility located in a fronton or dog track in conjunction with the fronton or dog track licensee. The bill allows the OTB licensee to operate the facility in conjunction with the fronton or jai alai owner, operator, or licensee. It is unclear whether this means that such an owner or operator would not have to be licensed by DSR.

The bill exempts the Bridgeport dog track or fronton and the Plainfield simulcasting theater (the correct reference should be Plainfield dog track) from any law or regulation that may require that a facility operate racing days as a condition of operating or retaining its license. It contains a similar exemption for racing, jai alai, and OTB association licensees. This means that the licensees and facilities would not have to operate live events in order to keep their license. (An association licensee is a person or business licensed by DSR to conduct racing or jai alai, or to operate the OTB system. )

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2006

BACKGROUND

The Law and OTB Facilities

The law authorizes 18 OTB facilities, including eight (commonly called simulcasting theaters) that have amenities such as restaurants, concessions, and other amenities and television screens to broadcast live OTB racing and jai alai games. The other facilities have limited amenities and cannot simulcast events.

By law, one of the eight simulcasting theaters must be located in New Haven, one in Windsor Locks, one at the Plainfield dog track, and one in the Bridgeport fronton or dog track.

Location of Current Facilities

OTB facilities not authorized to simulcast currently operate in Bridgeport, East Haven, Milford, Norwalk, and Waterbury.

Simulcasting theaters operate in Bristol, Bridgeport (Shoreline Star dog track), Hartford, New Britain, New Haven (at Sports Haven), Plainfield (at the closed dog track), Torrington, and Windsor Locks (Bradley Teletheater).

COMMITTEE ACTION

Public Safety and Security Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference

Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee

Joint Favorable