Section 11-65-32.1
Televised racing and pari-mutuel wagering; pari-mutuel pools and takeout; construction.
(a) Televised Racing Events in Alabama and Pari-Mutuel Wagering Thereon. The provisions of Section 11-65-32 to the contrary notwithstanding, any person now or hereafter licensed by a racing commission in a Class 1 municipality (the "commission") to conduct live horse racing or live greyhound racing and pari-mutuel wagering on either thereof (the "racing operator") shall have the right, subject to the reasonable regulatory authority of the commission, (1) to cause live horse racing events and live greyhound racing events conducted at the racetrack in such Class 1 municipality (the "Class 1 racetrack") to be transmitted by television to racetracks located elsewhere in the State of Alabama (as well as to the locations in other states and foreign countries permitted by said Section 11-65-32) and there made available for public viewing and pari-mutuel wagering thereon and (2) to cause televised horse racing events and greyhound racing events held at racetracks located elsewhere in the State of Alabama (as well as at locations in other states and foreign countries permitted by said Section 11-65-32) to be received at the Class 1 racetrack and there made available for public viewing and pari-mutuel wagering thereon.
(b) Combined Pari-Mutuel Pools and Takeout for Televised Racing Events. With respect to horse or greyhound racing events that are conducted at the Class 1 racetrack and are transmitted by television to other locations, the racing operator may create and administer pari-mutuel pools that, in addition to bets made by bettors at the Class 1 racetrack, include bets made by bettors at one or more of the locations receiving the televised racing events. With respect to horse or greyhound racing events that are conducted at racetracks other than the Class 1 racetrack and are received by television at the Class 1 racetrack, the racing operator may participate in pari-mutuel pools, created and administered by the racetrack conducting the televised events, that include bets made by bettors at the Class 1 racetrack as well as bets made by bettors at the racetrack conducting the televised events and at other locations receiving the televised events. Pari-mutuel pools that include bets made by bettors at both the Class 1 racetrack and other locations are herein referred to as "combined pools." The amount allowed to the racing operator as the "takeout" with respect to pari-mutuel pools bet at the Class 1 racetrack on horse or greyhound racing events that are received by television from elsewhere shall be the same as the takeout that would be allowed by applicable law on the same kind of pari-mutuel pools bet on live racing at the Class 1 racetrack; provided, however, that with respect to any horse or greyhound racing events received by television at the Class 1 racetrack, the racing operator, in order to enable bettors at the Class 1 racetrack to participate fully in combined pools, may adjust the takeout for bets placed at the Class 1 racetrack to match the takeout required for the combined pools administered by the operator of the racetrack conducting the live racing events that are transmitted by television to the Class 1 racetrack.
(c) Construction of Section. Nothing in this section shall be construed (1) to permit or make lawful "off-track betting" or gambling of any kind at any location in Alabama other than a racetrack where pari-mutuel wagering on live racing events may be lawfully conducted or (2) to permit racing events to be transmitted or received by television, or pari-mutuel wagering to be conducted with respect to televised racing events, at any racetrack in Alabama other than the Class 1 racetrack, unless such activities at such other racetrack are also authorized by the particular racing act or other separate law applicable to such other racetrack.
(Acts 1997, No. 97-190, p. 300, §§1-3.)