<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".24" citation="COMAR 09.10.04.24" title_num="09" subtitle_num="10" chapter_num="04" heading="Telephone Account Betting.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Definitions. In this regulation, the following terms have the meanings indicated:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Net betting revenue” means the gross amount of all bets placed through a TABS less:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Return to bettors;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>State tax and all other amounts required by law to be paid to anyone other than a track licensee, horsemen, and breeders;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Fees paid to the racetracks that hosted the live races in this State and out-of-State;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Fees paid to a third-party operator of the TABS; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Costs of the racing association as agreed to between the:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Racing association,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Organization representing a majority of the horsemen racing at the track where the TABS is operated, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Organization representing a majority of the breeders of the breed of horses racing at the track where the TABS is operated.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Source market area” means the prescribed radius surrounding a racetrack within which the postal ZIP code for the principal residence of a telephone betting account holder is located.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Telephone account betting system (TABS)” means a system, established by a licensed racing association and approved by the Commission, by which an individual may open an account in order to bet on horse races by telephonic, electronic, or other means of communication.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>General.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Subject to the receipt of an application by a licensed racing association, the Commission may permit the racing association to establish and operate a TABS on days when the racing association is authorized to conduct racing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>All bets placed through a TABS are:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Considered to have been made in this State; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Subject to the laws of this State and the regulations of the Commission.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A racing association operating a TABS may conduct betting on races through the TABS only on those races which the racing association is authorized to conduct.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Establishing and Maintaining Accounts.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A telephone betting account may be established and maintained for an individual by a racing association authorized by the Commission to operate a TABS.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A telephone betting account may be established for an individual whose principal residence is outside this State if the racing association complies with all applicable provisions of federal and state law.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>For the purposes of determining if a bet was made from within a source market area as provided under §Q of this regulation, the principal residential address of the individual account holder, as maintained by the TABS, is considered the location from which that bet originated.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>A racing association shall obtain from each individual who applies for a telephone betting account the individual's:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Name;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Principal residential address including postal ZIP code;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Social Security number;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Proof of age and identity; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>An initial deposit which is not:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Less than the minimum amount established by the association, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>More than $500, if the deposit is made by the use of a credit or debit card.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>A racing association shall maintain the following information regarding each individual for whom it maintains a telephone betting account:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Name;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Principal residential address including postal ZIP code;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Telephone number;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Social Security number;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Amount bet;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Tracks on whose races bets were placed; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>Such other information as the Commission may reasonably request.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>A racing association shall furnish to each individual for whom it establishes an account:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A personal identification number of not less than four alphanumeric characters;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The identifying number assigned to the individual's account by the racing association;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Instructions on how to operate the telephone betting account;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Regulations of the Commission in regard to this type of betting; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Conditions imposed by the racing association on this type of betting.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>A racing association may not establish an account for an individual who is younger than 18 years old.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Based on its business judgment, a racing association may:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Refuse to establish an account for an individual; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Close the account of an individual.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>A racing association may not accept a bet through a TABS if:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The account holder does not submit the correct personal identification number; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The amount of the bet is greater than the available balance in the account.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Other than for bets and deposits, the only charges and credits that may be made to an account are the:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Proceeds from a successful bet;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Refunds;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Withdrawals ordered by the account holder;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Payments to an account holder upon the closing of the account;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Fees, as established by a racing association and agreed upon by an account holder, for the maintenance of an account and related services; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Promotional considerations provided by the racing association.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="K.">
    <text>Time.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A racing association may delay the use of a deposit to an account, made with an instrument other than cash, until the time allowed by the banking industry for the dishonor of that instrument has passed.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The proceeds from a successful bet, or the amount due from a refund, shall be credited to an individual's account as soon as reasonably practicable after the race or races upon which the bet was placed becomes official.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A valid withdrawal order by the holder of an account shall be honored within 5 business days of its receipt.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A racing association shall pay the account holder the balance in the account within 5 business days after the account is closed.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="L.">
    <text>A racing association operating a TABS shall:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Make an account activity report available to an account holder quarterly;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Close an account which has not had any betting activity for a 12-month period; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Notify a Commission representative within 24 hours of the event, if for any reason a bet placed by an account holder in accordance with the established telephone account betting procedures is not accepted.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="M.">
    <text>Exception to an Account Activity Report.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If an account holder takes exception to an account activity report issued by a racing association as required by §L(1) of this regulation, the account holder shall submit the exception in writing to the racing association within 30 days of the issuance of the account activity report.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the exception is not resolved by the racing association within 15 days of its receipt, the racing association shall promptly notify, in writing, the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Commission of the exception; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Account holder of the right to request a hearing before the Commission to resolve the exception.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Upon receipt of a request from an account holder to conduct a hearing to resolve the exception, the Commission shall schedule and conduct a hearing.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="N.">
    <text>Accounts.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Before being granted the right to operate a TABS, and every 6 months thereafter, a racing association shall furnish the Commission with proof that the account holders will be guaranteed the full value of their accounts regardless of the acts of the association or any other entity.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>If the proof offered under §N(1) of this regulation is not acceptable to the Commission, the Commission may require the racing association to purchase a bond or other form of insurance guaranteeing that the account holders receive the full value of their accounts.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="O.">
    <text>An account holder shall notify the racing association maintaining that individual's account, in writing, of any change of the account holder's principal residential address.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="P.">
    <text>Confidentiality.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Except as otherwise provided, all information regarding an account shall be maintained in confidence by a racing association including:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The account number;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The personal identification number;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Personal information regarding the account holder; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Transactions.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Information regarding an account may be disclosed;</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>To the account holder,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>To the Commission; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>As otherwise required by State law, federal law, or the regulations of the Commission.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="Q.">
    <text>Source Market Areas.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>There shall be a source market area for each racing association that is authorized to operate a TABS.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The source market area of a racing association consists of all postal addresses located within a 35-mile radius of the racing association, subject to the following:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Address locations shall be determined by postal ZIP codes;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If a portion of a postal ZIP code is within a source market area established by this subsection, the entire postal ZIP code shall be included within that source market area; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The source market area for a racing association that is not a mile thoroughbred track licensee or a harness track licensee is applicable only during the period of time it holds live racing.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Unless otherwise agreed between the applicable racing associations, an individual residing within a source market area may only establish a telephone betting account with a racing association in whose source market area the customer resides.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>An individual residing outside of any source market area may establish a telephone betting account with any racing association in the State that is authorized to operate a TABS.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="R.">
    <text>Net Betting Revenue.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The net betting revenue derived from bets originating from the source market area of a racing association shall be retained by the racing association.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The net betting revenue derived from bets originating from the source market area of one racing association, which overlaps the source market area of another racing association, shall be divided among the racing associations:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>As set forth in a written agreement; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>As provided in §V of this regulation if a written agreement is not then in effect.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>During the period live racing is conducted at the Timonium racetrack:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The net betting revenue from the source market areas of Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, and Timonium shall be divided among the racing associations operating these racetracks in accordance with a written agreement; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Absent an agreement, the net betting revenue from the source market areas of Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, and Timonium shall be retained by the racing association licensed to operate Timonium.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A racing association operating a TABS shall retain the net betting revenue derived from a bet made through its TABS by an individual residing outside the source market areas established under this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="S.">
    <text>Allocation of Net Betting Revenue. All net betting revenue retained or received by a racing association shall be allocated:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>In accordance with an agreement between the racing association, the organization representing a majority of the horsemen racing at the track operated by the racing association, and the organization representing a majority of the breeders of the breed of horses racing at the track operated by the racing association; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Absent an agreement as referenced under §S(1) of this regulation, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Business Regulation Article, Title 11, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="T.">
    <text>Reports to the Commission. Not later than 75 days after the end of the calendar year, a racing association shall file with the Commission a report, certified by an independent certified public accountant, of all of the costs and expenses deducted in any calendar year by the racing association in calculating net betting revenue.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="U.">
    <text>Contracting for Use of TABS.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A racing association may contract with one or more entities to conduct betting through the TABS established by the racing association.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The racing association contracting with an entity to conduct betting through the TABS established by the racing association shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Prohibit that entity from accepting bets from residents within the source market area of another racing association unless that racing association agrees;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If racing association referenced in §U(2)(a) of this regulation agrees, collect and remit to that racing association the net betting revenue from bets made within the source market area of that racing association; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Collect and keep the net betting revenue for bets made within the State but outside of the source market area of any racing association.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Revenues and expenses of the contracted entity referenced in §U(1) of this regulation derived from betting conducted through the TABS established by a racing association, other than as provided in §U(2) of this regulation, may not be included in net betting revenue.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>After payment to the contracted entity referenced in §U(1) of this regulation for services performed, the revenue retained by the racing association from bets facilitated by that entity, other than the amounts referenced in §U(2) of this regulation, shall be allocated:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>In accordance with an agreement between:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The racing association,</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The organization representing a majority of the horsemen racing at the track operated by the racing association, and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The organization representing a majority of the breeders of the breed of horses racing at the track operated by the racing association; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Absent an agreement as referenced under §U(4)(a) of this regulation, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Business Regulation Article, Title 11, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="V.">
    <text>Allocation of Net Betting Revenue from Overlapping Source Market Areas. If there is no written agreement in effect among the racing associations licensed to operate Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, and Rosecroft Raceway as to the allocation among them of net betting revenue from the source market areas of Laurel Park or Pimlico Race Course that overlap with the source market area of Rosecroft Raceway, then the allocation shall be determined by a formula that gives equal weight to each of the following three factors, each factor to be calculated as the arithmetical mean average of the factor during 1999 and the last calendar year immediately preceding the period for which the calculation is to be made.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Factor 1: Handle bet in Maryland, other than through a TABS, by breed, with the racing associations licensed to operate Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course credited with all thoroughbred handle, and the racing association licensed to operate Rosecroft Raceway credited with all standardbred handle;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Factor 2: Handle bet in Maryland, other than through a TABS, by the time of day, with the racing associations licensed to operate Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course credited with all handle on racing programs that begin at 6 p.m. Eastern Time or earlier on any day, and the racing association licensed to operate Rosecroft Raceway credited with all handle on racing programs that begin after 6 p.m. Eastern Time on any day; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Factor 3: Handle bet in Maryland, other than through a TABS, by location, with the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Racing associations licensed to operate Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course credited with all handle bet at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, and any satellite simulcast betting facility established after January 1, 2000, located exclusively within their respective source market areas and not overlapping with the source market area of the racing association licensed to operate Rosecroft Raceway,</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Racing association licensed to operate Rosecroft Raceway credited with all handle bet at Rosecroft Raceway and any satellite simulcast betting facility established after January 1, 2000, located exclusively within its source market area and not overlapping with the source market area of the racing associations licensed to operate Laurel Park or Pimlico Race Course, and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Racing associations licensed to operate Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course and the racing association licensed to operate Rosecroft Raceway credited with 80 percent and 20 percent respectively, of the handle bet at all other satellite simulcast betting facilities.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>