Bill Text: NJ A2634 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes horse derby game to be played at horse racetracks in this State.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-01 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee [A2634 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-A2634-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes horse derby game to be played at horse racetracks in this State.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act authorizing the horse derby game to be played at horse racetracks in this State and supplementing P.L.1940, c.17 (C.5:5-22 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Legislature finds and declares that "horse derby" is a game of skill and, therefore, is not a form of gambling that is restricted by the provisions of the New Jersey Constitution.
b. As used in this section, "horse derby" means a game having an integrated sound system, special sound effects, and six mechanical horses and jockeys that proceed around an authentically-detailed center racetrack with players challenged to predict which horses will cross the finish line first, or which group of horses will finish in the top three positions, and players having access through individual stations to information on each horse's strengths, weaknesses, and past performances and to a real-time video feed of the race from a moving camera.
"horse derby room" means a room at a running or harness horse racetrack in this State in which the horse derby is played.
c. The holder of a permit to conduct a horse race meeting may establish a horse derby room at a running or harness horse racetrack in which the horse derby game is conducted with a portion of the amounts wagered retained by the permit holder.
d. A horse derby player shall be at least 21 years of age.
e. The Division of Gaming Enforcement shall have jurisdiction over the conduct of horse derby played in a horse derby room at a racetrack in this State. The division shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), that: establish the rules of the game; provide for the licensing of a permit holder and its employees who conduct the game; and establish standards for the size and arrangement of a horse derby room. The division shall approve the amount that a permit holder may retain as compensation from the conduct of horse derby. The New Jersey Racing Commission shall have no jurisdiction over horse derby conducted pursuant to this section.
f. Horse derby, as conducted and played in a horse derby room at a racetrack in this State, pursuant to this section, shall not constitute a violation of any criminal law of this State that addresses gambling.
2. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the horse derby game to be played at racetracks in this State. Horse derby is a game having an integrated sound system, special sound effects, and six mechanical horses and jockeys that proceed around an authentically-detailed center racetrack with players challenged to predict which horses will cross the finish line first, or which group of horses will finish in the top three positions, and players having access through individual stations to information on each horse's strengths, weaknesses and past performances and to a real-time video feed of the race from a moving camera.
The bill states that the Legislature finds and declares that horse derby is a game of skill and is not restricted by the gambling provisions of the State Constitution. Accordingly, horse derby as conducted under the bill will not violate any criminal law of this State. The Division of Gaming Enforcement will have jurisdiction over horse derby at racetracks and will promulgate rules and regulations establishing the rules of the game, providing for the licensing of racetrack permit holders to conduct horse derby, and establishing standards for the size and arrangement of horse derby rooms. The division will also approve the amount that a permit holder may retain as compensation from the conduct of horse derby. The New Jersey Racing Commission will have no jurisdiction over horse derby at racetracks. Horse derby players must be at least 21 years of age.
