TITLE 11. GAMING
Title of Regulation: 11VAC10-47. Historical Horse
Racing (adding 11VAC10-47-10 through 11VAC10-47-200).
Statutory Authority: § 59.1-369 of the Code of Virginia.
Effective Date: October 14, 2020.
Agency Contact: Kimberly Mackey, Regulatory Coordinator,
Virginia Racing Commission, 5707 Huntsman Road, Suite 201-B, Richmond, VA
23250, telephone (804) 966-7406, or email kimberly.mackey@vrc.virginia.gov.
Summary:
The action establishes regulations to implement Chapter 811
of the 2018 Acts of Assembly, which authorizes historical horse racing at
facilities licensed by the Virginia Racing Commission throughout the
Commonwealth of Virginia. The requirements for an entity licensed to conduct
pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing include (i) the location and
hours of operation, (ii) types and specifications of the terminals to be
utilized, (iii) accounting and auditing, (iv) permits required for licensee
employees, (v) simulcast operations, (vi) annual reporting, and (vii)
implementation by a licensee of a program to promote responsible gaming and the
minimum requirements for such a program.
Changes to the proposed regulation implement requirements
of Chapter 1197 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly, which add a new maximum number of
terminals, increase the tax rate to the Commonwealth and localities, allow one
additional live day for every 100 new terminals, and, as of March 1, 2020,
require that terminals installed in locations must not be more than 40% by any
single manufacturer.
Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: No
public comments were received by the promulgating agency.
CHAPTER 47
HISTORICAL HORSE RACING
11VAC10-47-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms shall have the following
meanings when used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise:
"Act" means Chapter 29 (§ 59.1-364 et seq.) of
Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia.
"Applicant" means an individual who has
submitted an application to obtain a license to offer pari-mutuel wagering on
historical horse racing from the commission.
"Commission" means the Virginia Racing
Commission.
"Historical horse racing" means a form of horse
racing that creates pari-mutuel pools from wagers placed on previously
conducted horse races and is hosted at (i) a racetrack owned or operated by a
significant infrastructure limited licensee or (ii) a satellite facility that
is owned or operated by (a) a significant infrastructure limited licensee or
(b) the nonprofit industry stakeholder organization recognized by the
commission and licensed to own or operate such satellite facility.
"Independent testing laboratory" means a
laboratory with a national reputation for honesty, independence, and timeliness
that is demonstrably competent and qualified to scientifically test and
evaluate devices for compliance with this chapter and to otherwise perform the
functions assigned to it by this chapter. An independent testing laboratory
shall not be owned or controlled by a licensee, the state, or any manufacturer,
supplier, or operator of historical horse racing terminals.
"Integrity auditor" means a company that
conducts periodic and regular tests on the validity of pari-mutuel wagering,
deductions, and payouts for the applicable historical horse racing event,
including the legitimacy of the event itself, and tests that the order of
finish of the race selected in the game is valid, match to the order of finish
that occurred empirically, and that all runners that were listed as entered
into the race for the purposes of the game, legitimately ran in the race.
"Licensee" means any person holding an owner's
or operator's license under Article 2 (§ 59.1-375 et seq.) of Chapter 29
of the Code of Virginia who is granted a license by the commission under this
chapter to conduct pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing.
"Satellite facility" means all areas of the
property at which simulcast horse racing is received for the purposes of
pari-mutuel wagering and any additional areas designated by the commission for
conducting pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing.
11VAC10-47-20. Pari-mutuel wagering; generally.
The commission is authorized to issue licenses to (i)
holders of a significant infrastructure limited license or (ii) holders of a
satellite facility license to conduct pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse
racing for the promotion, sustenance, and growth of a native industry, in a
manner consistent with the health, safety, and welfare of the people.
Pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing shall be conducted so as to
maintain horse racing in the Commonwealth of Virginia of the highest quality
and free of any corrupt, incompetent, dishonest, or unprincipled practices and
to maintain in horse racing complete honesty and integrity. This chapter shall
exclusively govern all matters related to pari-mutuel wagering on historical
horse racing.
11VAC10-47-30. Observance of regulations.
A licensee shall be charged with the observance and
compliance with the act and the regulations of the commission.
11VAC10-47-40. Requirements for wagering on historical horse
racing.
A. In accordance with the act, wagering on a historical
horse race shall only be conducted by:
1. A significant infrastructure limited licensee; or
2. A satellite facility licensee.
B. Wagering on historical horse racing may only take place
at a licensed significant infrastructure facility or a licensed satellite
facility.
C. A licensee may conduct wagering on historical horse
races of any horse breed regardless of the type of breed that primarily races
in live meets conducted by the licensee.
D. The minimum wager to be accepted by any licensee on the
outcome of a historical horse race shall be $ .10. The minimum payout on
any wager shall not be less than the amount wagered.
E. Any wager placed on a historical horse race is a
multiple wager.
F. The terminal may display the wager and its outcome as
part of an entertaining display or game, provided the wager functions according
to the pari-mutuel wagering pool specifications provided by the licensee to and
approved by the commission. A licensee may not offer a new display or game
without prior approval of the commission as set forth in this chapter.
G. All wagering on a historical horse race shall
incorporate the following elements:
1. A patron may only wager on a historical horse race on a
terminal approved by the commission;
2. A licensee shall at all times maintain at least two
terminals offering wagering on historical horse races for each pool and minimum
wager denomination;
3. Prior to the patron making wager selections, the
terminal shall not display any information that would allow the patron to
identify the historical race on which the patron is wagering, including the
location of the race, the date on which the race was run, the names of the
horses in the race, or the names of the jockeys who rode the horses in the
race;
4. The terminal shall make available true and accurate past
performance information on the historical horse race to the patron prior to the
patron making wager selections. The information shall be current as of the day
the historical horse race was actually run. The information provided to the
patron shall be displayed on the terminal in data or graphical form; and
5. After a patron finalizes wager selections, the terminal
shall display the official results of the race and a replay of the race, or a
portion thereof, whether by digital, animated, or graphical depiction or by way
of a video recording. The identity of the race shall be revealed to the patron
after the patron has placed a wager.
11VAC10-47-50. Location and hours of operation of terminals
used for wagering on historical horse racing.
A. Pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse races shall
only be permitted in designated areas that have the prior written approval of
the commission and are on the premises of a significant infrastructure limited
licensee or satellite facility licensee.
B. A licensee shall request permission from the commission
to alter the physical layout of the area permitted for historical horse racing.
C. Designated areas shall be established in such a way as
to control access by the general public and prevent entry by any patron who is
younger than 18 years of age or is otherwise not permitted to place wagers.
D. The designated area shall provide terminals that are
accessible to handicapped persons.
E. A licensee may conduct pari-mutuel wagering on
historical horse races on days and hours approved by the commission.
11VAC10-47-60. Payouts from pari-mutuel pools generated by
wagering on historical horse racing.
A. A wager on a historical horse race, less deductions
permitted by the act, shall be placed in pari-mutuel pools approved by the
commission.
B. A licensee shall provide guaranteed funding for all
historical horse race pools offered by the licensee. This guarantee shall be in
the form of a letter of credit, bond with surety, or other instrument of
financial security in an amount and form approved by the commission sufficient
to cover outstanding vouchers together with any indebtedness incurred by the
licensee to the Commonwealth.
C. A licensee offering wagering on a historical horse race
shall maintain pari-mutuel pools for each wager in a manner and method approved
by the commission. The pari-mutuel pools shall be maintained and funded in a
method approved by the commission to ensure that the amount available in the
pari-mutuel pools at any given time is sufficient to ensure that a patron will
be paid the minimum amount required on a winning wager.
D. All prizes awarded from a historical horse race wager
shall be awarded from an existing pari-mutuel pool. The money in the pool shall
only consist of money wagered by patrons or allocated to the pari-mutuel pool.
Wagers made on a historical horse race shall not constitute a wager against the
licensee. Wagers shall not be conducted in a manner in which the amount retained
by the licensee is dependent upon the outcome of any particular race or the
success of any particular wager.
E. The rules for the mathematical model, configuration of
pools, and pool payout methodology shall be described in game specification
documentation, which shall be provided by the licensee to the commission.
F. Controls shall be in place to ensure that depletion of
a pari-mutuel pool below an amount required to pay all winning tickets shall be
detected at the time of depletion, and depletion shall result in the automatic
suspension of any wagering activity related to that pool. The commission shall
be notified immediately in the event of the suspension of wagering activity of
any historical horse racing pool.
11VAC10-47-70. Commission approval of historical horse
racing games and displays.
A. A licensee shall submit a written request to the
commission for permission to offer a multiple wager on a historical horse race.
The written request shall include a detailed description of the rules that
apply to the pari-mutuel wager, the method of calculating payouts, and the
method by which money will be allocated to the pari-mutuel pool, if applicable.
This documentation shall fully and accurately describe:
1. The method of determining a game outcome;
2. Available wagering denominations;
3. Minimum wager amount;
4. Maximum wager amount;
5. The allocation of wagers into the pari-mutuel pool;
6. The amount of takeout for each wager;
7. The method of calculating winning payouts and breakage,
where applicable;
8. Payout calculations set forth in sufficient detail to
audit a payout through manual calculation;
9. The minimum payouts and the method of guaranteeing
minimum payouts;
10. The method of mapping payouts to an entertaining
display on the wagering terminal; and
11. Any other information provided to an independent
testing laboratory for use in the testing of the pari-mutuel wagers.
B. For wagering on historical horse racing, approximate
odds or payouts for each pool shall be available on each respective terminal
for viewing by patrons.
C. In conspicuous places in the designated area, each
licensee shall post (i) a general explanation of pari-mutuel wagering offered
on historical horse races and (ii) an explanation of each betting pool offered
in the terminal menus. The explanation shall be submitted to the commission for
approval prior to its posting.
11VAC10-47-80. Equipment required for pari-mutuel wagering
on historical horse races.
A. Wagering on historical horse races shall be offered on
terminals that include a cabinet in which the electronics and other operating
components are located. All terminals and other equipment shall be subject to
inspection by the commission.
B. The terminal shall:
1. Protect against electrostatic interference by being
grounded so that static discharge energy shall not permanently damage or
inhibit the normal operation of the electronics or other components within the
wagering terminal. In the event that a temporary disruption of the normal
operation of a wagering terminal occurs as a result of an electrostatic
discharge, the wagering terminal shall have the capacity to recover and
complete any interrupted wager without loss or corruption of any control or
critical data information. Each terminal shall be tested to a maximum discharge
severity level of 27 kV air discharge;
2. Not be adversely affected, other than during resets, by
surges or dips of up to 20% of the supply voltage. If a wagering terminal is
designed such that a surge or dip of up to 20% of the supply voltage causes a
reset, the terminal shall also be designed so that a surge or dip shall not
result in damage to the equipment or loss or corruption of data. Upon reset,
the game shall return to its previous state or return to a game completion
state, provided the game history and all credit and accounting meters
comprehend a completed game;
3. Have an on/off switch that controls the electrical current
installed in a readily accessible location within the interior of the terminal
so that power cannot be disconnected from outside of the terminal using the
on/off switch. The on/off positions of the switch shall be labeled;
4. Be designed so that power and data cables into and out
of the terminal can be routed so that they are not accessible to the general
public. Security-related wires and cables that are routed into a logic area
shall be securely fastened within the interior of the terminal;
5. Have an identification badge affixed to the exterior of
the terminal by the manufacturer that is not removable without leaving evidence
of tampering. This badge shall include the following information:
a. The name of the manufacturer;
b. A unique serial number;
c. The terminal model number; and
d. The date of manufacture;
6. Have an external tower light located conspicuously on
the top of the terminal that automatically illuminates when a patron has won an
amount that the terminal cannot automatically pay or when an error condition
has occurred;
7. Be constructed of materials that are designed to allow
only authorized access to the inside of the terminal. The terminal and its
locks, doors, and associated hinges shall be capable of withstanding determined
and unauthorized efforts to gain access to the inside of the terminal and shall
be designed to leave evidence of tampering if such an entry is made;
8. Have seals between the terminal and the doors of a
locked area that are designed to resist the use of tools or other objects used
to breach the locked area by physical force;
9. Have external doors that shall be locked and monitored
by door access sensors. When the external doors are opened, the door access
sensors shall (i) cause game wagering activity to cease, (ii) disable all
currency acceptance, (iii) enter an error condition, (iv) illuminate the tower
light at a minimum, and (v) record the error condition. The requirements of
this subsection do not apply to the drop box door;
10. Have external doors designed so that it shall not be
possible to insert a device into the terminal that will disable a "door
open" sensor without leaving evidence of tampering when the door of the
terminal is shut;
11. Have a sensor system that shall provide notification
that an external door is open when the door is moved from its fully closed and
locked position, provided power is supplied to the device;
12. Have a logic area, which is a separately locked cabinet
area with its own monitored, locked door or other monitored, locked covering
that houses electronic components that have the potential to significantly
influence the operation of the terminal. There may be more than one such logic
area in a terminal. The electronic components housed in the logic area shall
include:
a. A central processing unit and any program storage device
that contains software that may affect the integrity of wagering, including the
game accounting, system communication, and peripheral firmware devices involved
in or that significantly influence the operation and calculation of game play,
game display, game result determination, or game accounting, revenue, or
security;
b. Communication controller electronics and components
housing the communication program storage device; and
c. The nonvolatile memory backup device, which if located
in the logic area, shall be kept within a locked logic area; and
13. Have a currency storage area that is separately keyed
and fitted with sensors that indicate "door open/close" or
"stacker receptacle removed," provided power is supplied to the
device. Access to the currency storage area shall be secured by two locks
before the currency can be removed. The locks shall be located on the relevant
outer door and on at least one other door.
C. Critical memory storage shall be maintained by a
methodology that enables errors to be identified. This methodology shall
include signatures, checksums, partial checksums, multiple copies, timestamps,
effective use of validity codes, or any combination of these methods.
D. Comprehensive checks of critical memory shall be made
following game initiation but prior to display of game outcome to the patron.
E. An unrecoverable corruption of critical memory shall
result in an error state. The memory error shall not be cleared automatically
and shall cause the terminal to cease further functioning. The critical memory
error shall also cause any communication external to the terminal to
immediately cease. An unrecoverable critical memory error shall require
restoration or clearing of software state by an authorized person.
F. If critical memory is maintained in nonvolatile memory
on the terminal and not by the server based system, then:
1. The terminal shall have the ability to retain data for
all critical memory as defined in this section and shall be capable of
maintaining the accuracy of the data for 30 days after power is discontinued
from the terminal;
2. For rechargeable battery types only, if the battery
backup is used as an off-chip battery source, it shall recharge itself to its
full potential in a maximum of 24 hours. The shelf life of the battery shall be
at least five years;
3. Nonvolatile memory that uses an off-chip backup power
source to retain its contents when the main power is switched off shall have a
detection system that will provide a method for software to interpret and act
upon a low battery condition before the battery reaches a level where it is no
longer capable of maintaining the memory in question. Clearing nonvolatile
memory shall require access to the locked logic area or other secure method,
provided that the method is approved by the commission; and
4. Following the initiation of a nonvolatile memory reset
procedure, the game program shall execute a routine that initializes all bits
in critical nonvolatile memory to the default state. All memory locations
intended to be cleared as per the nonvolatile memory clear process shall be
fully reset in all cases.
G. Critical memory of a server-based game may be
maintained by the server, terminal, or some combination thereof. The critical
memory related to each terminal shall:
1. Be kept independent to all other wagering terminals. If
corruption occurs in any single terminal's critical memory no other terminal
shall be effected by the terminal's corrupt memory state; and
2. Be clearly identified as to which physical terminal the
critical memory represents, through unique identification, such as serial
number or other unique terminal hardware identifier.
H. All terminals shall be equipped with a device,
mechanism, or method for retaining the value of the meter information specified
in 11VAC10-47-10 in the event of a loss of power to the terminal. Storage and
retrieval of the accounting meters from a server is an acceptable method of
retrieval.
I. Configuration setting changes shall not cause an
obstruction to the meters.
J. If the terminal is in a test, diagnostic, or
demonstration mode, any test that incorporates credits entering or leaving the
terminal shall be completed prior to resumption of normal operation. In
addition, there shall not be any mode other than normal wagering operation that
debits or credits any of the electronic meters. Any wagering credits on the
terminal that were accrued during the test, diagnostic, or demonstration mode
shall be cleared before the mode is exited. Specific meters are permissible for
these types of modes, provided the meters are clearly identified.
K. Terminals shall not allow any information contained in
a communication to or from the online monitoring system that is intended to be
protected, including validation information, secure PINs, credentials, or
secure seeds and keys, to be viewable through any display mechanism supported
by the terminal.
L. All program storage devices shall:
1. Be housed within a fully enclosed and locked logic
compartment;
2. Validate themselves during each processor reset; and
3. Validate themselves the first time they are used.
M. Program storage devices that do not have the ability to
be modified while installed in the terminal during normal operation shall be
clearly marked with information to identify the software and revision level of
the information stored in the devices.
N. Terminals shall have the ability to allow for an
independent integrity check of all software that may affect the integrity of
the game. The integrity check shall be by an independent testing laboratory
approved by the commission.
1. The independent testing laboratory's software may be
embedded within the game software, utilize an interface port to communicate
with the terminal, or require the removal of terminal media for external
verification.
2. Each terminal used for wagering on historical horse
races shall be tested by the independent testing laboratory to ensure its
integrity and proper working order. This evaluation shall include a review of
installed software prior to implementation and periodically within a timeframe
established by the commission.
3. The licensee shall pay the cost of the independent
testing laboratory's review and testing, and the reports of the same shall be
delivered to the licensee and the commission.
4. To ensure the integrity of pari-mutuel wagering and
validity of the race results, the licensee shall permit an integrity auditor,
selected and paid for by the commission, complete access to review and monitor
the integrity, security, and operation, including all race and handicapping
data used in order to detect any compromise of or anomalies that would allow a
player to have an unfair advantage.
5. The integrity auditor shall be in a position to extract
actual data and use a statistically significant portion of this data applied to
quality assurance testing and assess the validity of the vendor's management
reporting by cross-referencing to a body of raw source information to determine
correctness. The integrity auditor shall have experience and expertise
involving all components of pari-mutuel wagering and totalizator systems.
6. The integrity auditor will collect and provide wagering
data and reports from the licensee's vendor. This shall include pari-mutuel
commission and liability reports for analysis and verification of the amounts
wagered, payouts, takeout, and taxes in addition to all transactional data logs
and reports daily as specified by the integrity auditor.
7. The licensee shall provide access to the integrity
auditor to conduct periodic onsite inspections and terminal audits at licensed
racetracks and satellite wagering facilities with assistance from the vendor.
The licensee shall supply advanced notification, when possible, of at least 30
calendar days of all new game products, changes in the composition of the
historic horse races in the library, any changes to reporting or the method of
provision of those reports, and any adverse or unusual occurrences relating to
the operation of play or payouts to the integrity auditor.
O. Winning pari-mutuel wagers shall be processed according
to U.S. Internal Revenue Service reporting requirements for the taxation of
pari-mutuel horse racing. If a winning amount is in excess of the thresholds
established in the Internal Revenue Service reporting requirements, the terminal
shall cease operation and require attendant interaction to proceed.
P. Terminals shall be capable of detecting and displaying
the following errors:
1. Open door conditions;
2. Nonvolatile memory errors;
3. Low nonvolatile memory battery for batteries external to
the nonvolatile memory itself for low power source;
4. Program error or authentication mismatch;
5. Display device errors; and
6. The identification of an invalid bill or voucher.
Q. Detection of terminal error conditions must result in
actions to protect the integrity of the game. Following detection of an error
condition:
1. The terminal shall secure itself and it shall:
a. Cause the terminal to cease play and require attendant
intervention prior to returning to normal play;
b. Cause the terminal to display an appropriate error
message;
c. Disable bill and voucher acceptance;
d. Sound an alarm, illuminate the tower light, display the
error on screen, or any combination of the three;
e. Be communicated to an online monitoring and control
system;
f. Be displayed on a terminal; and
g. Cause the terminal to remain in error mode if the
terminal is powered down with an unresolved error condition, unless power down
is used as a part of the error reset procedure.
2. Upon resolution of an error condition, a terminal may
return to a wager completion state, provided the game history, wagering
credits, and other meters display the completed wager properly.
R. Terminals shall not be adversely affected by the
simultaneous or sequential activation of various terminal inputs and outputs.
S. Test, diagnostic, or demonstration modes on a terminal
shall:
1. Be entered only from an attendant following appropriate
instructions;
2. Not be accessible to a patron; and
3. Be indicated on the terminal via an appropriate message.
T. Upon exiting from test, diagnostic, or demonstration
mode, a terminal shall return to its previous state.
U. Video monitor touch screens on terminals shall:
1. Be accurate within one millimeter of the center of a
physical input;
2. Be able to be calibrated without access to the terminal
cabinet other than opening the main door, and once calibrated shall maintain
accuracy for at least the video touch screen manufacturer's recommended
maintenance period; and
3. Have no hidden or undocumented buttons or touch points
anywhere on the screen that affect wagering or that impact the outcome of the
game, except as provided by the game rules.
V. Paper currency acceptors used in a terminal shall:
1. Be electronically based;
2. Detect the entry of bills or vouchers inserted into the
paper currency acceptor and provide a method to enable the terminal software to
interpret and act appropriately upon a valid or invalid input;
3. Be configured to ensure the acceptance of only valid
bills or vouchers and reject all other items;
4. Return to the patron all rejected bills or vouchers, and
any other item inserted into the acceptor;
5. Be constructed in a manner that protects against
vandalism, abuse, or fraudulent activity;
6. Register the actual monetary value or appropriate number
of wagering credits received for the denomination used on the patron's credit
meter for each valid bill or voucher;
7. Register wagering credits only when the bill or other
note has passed the point where it is accepted or stacked and the acceptor has
sent an "irrevocably stacked" message to the terminal;
8. Be designed to prevent the use of fraudulent crediting,
the insertion of foreign objects, and any other fraudulent technique;
9. Implement a method of detecting counterfeit bills;
10. Only accept bills or vouchers when the terminal is
enabled for play;
11. Have the capability of detecting and displaying any
supported error conditions;
12. Shall communicate with the terminal using a
bi-directional protocol;
13. Be located in a locked area of the terminal that
requires the opening of the main door for access. The paper currency acceptor
shall not be located in the logic area. Only the bill or voucher insertion area
shall be accessible by the patron;
14. Have a secure stacker that shall:
a. Deposit into the stacker all accepted items;
b. Be attached to the terminal in such a manner that it
cannot be easily removed by physical force; and
c. Have a separate keyed lock to access the stacker area.
The keyed lock shall be separate from the main door, and a separate keyed lock
shall be required to remove the bills from the stacker; and
15. Have a bill validator that shall:
a. Retain in its memory and have the ability to display the
information required of the last 25 items accepted by the bill validator;
b. Have a recall log that may be combined or maintained
separately by item type. If combined, the type of item accepted shall be
recorded with the respective timestamp; and
c. Give proper credit or return the bill or note if power
failure occurs during acceptance of a bill or note.
W. Available wagering credit may be collected from the
terminal by the patron at any time other than during:
1. A game being wagered;
2. Audit mode;
3. Test mode;
4. A credit meter or win meter increment; or
5. An error condition.
X. Each terminal shall be equipped with a printer that:
1. Is used to make payments to the patron by issuing a
printed voucher. The terminal shall transmit the following data to an online
system that records the following information regarding each payout ticket or
voucher printed:
a. The value of credits in local monetary units in
numerical form;
b. The time of day the ticket or voucher was printed in
24-hour format, showing hours and minutes;
c. The date, in format approved by the commission,
indicating the day, month, and year that the ticket or voucher was issued;
d. The terminal number; and
e. A unique ticket or voucher validation number.
2. Prints only one copy to the patron and retains
information on the last 25 printed vouchers;
3. Is housed in a locked area of the terminal but shall not
be located within the logic area or the drop box; and
4. Allows control program software to interpret and act
upon all error conditions.
Y. Terminals shall be capable of displaying wager recall, which
shall:
1. Include the last 50 wagers on the terminal;
2. Be retrievable on the terminal via an external
key-switch or other secure method not available to the patron; and
3. Provide all information required to fully reconstruct
the wagers, including:
a. Initial credits or ending credits associated with the
wager;
b. Credits wagered;
c. Credits won;
d. Entertaining game display symbol combinations and
credits paid whether the outcome resulted in a win or a loss;
e. Representation in a graphical or text format;
f. Final wager outcome, including all patron choices and
all bonus features; and
g. As an optional feature, display of values as currency in
place of wagering credits.
Z. Server-stored information shall be backed up no less
often than once per day to an offsite storage facility controlled by the
licensee. Offsite storage may include storage through a cloud service provider
if approved by the commission. The server and offsite backup storage shall be
accessible to the commission and subject to third-party checks and validation
as provided in subsection N of this section.
[ AA. Excluding machines installed as of March 1,
2020, each location operating historical racing terminals shall be prohibited
from having more than 40% of its terminals manufactured by any single
manufacturer. ]
11VAC10-47-90. Requirements for tickets or vouchers used in
historical horse racing.
A. Terminals shall not dispense currency. Payment to
patrons shall only be accomplished by means of a printed voucher.
B. All vouchers shall contain the following printed
information at a minimum:
1. Licensee name and site identifier, which may be
contained on the ticket stock itself;
2. Terminal number or cashier booth location;
3. Date and time stated in a 24-hour format according to
the local time zone;
4. Alpha and numeric dollar amount;
5. Ticket or voucher sequence number;
6. Validation number;
7. Bar code or any machine-readable code representing the
validation number;
8. Type of transaction or other method of differentiating
voucher types. If the voucher is a noncashable item, the ticket shall
explicitly express that it has "no cash value"; and
9. The expiration period from date of issue, or date and
time the ticket or voucher will expire in a 24-hour format according to the
local time zone. This information may be contained on the ticket stock itself.
Payment on valid pari-mutuel tickets, including tickets where refunds are
ordered, shall be made only upon presentation and surrender of valid
pari-mutuel tickets to the licensee within 180 days after the purchase of the
ticket. Failure to present any valid pari-mutuel ticket to the licensee within
180 days after the purchase of the ticket shall constitute a waiver of the
right to payment.
C. A system approved by the commission shall be used to
validate the payout ticket or voucher. The ticket or voucher information on the
central system shall be retained for two calendar years after a voucher is
valid at that location.
D. Payment by voucher as a method of credit redemption
shall only be permissible when the terminal is linked to a computerized voucher
validation system that is approved by the commission.
E. The validation system must be able to identify a
duplicate ticket or voucher to prevent fraud.
F. Terminals must meet the following minimum requirements
to incorporate the ability to issue offline vouchers after a loss of
communication has been identified by a wagering terminal:
1. The wagering terminal shall not issue more offline
vouchers than it has the ability to retain and display in the wagering terminal
maintained voucher-out log;
2. The wagering terminal shall not request validation
numbers used in the issuance of vouchers until all outstanding offline voucher
information has been fully communicated to the voucher validation system;
3. The wagering terminal shall request a new set of
validation numbers used in the issuance of online or offline vouchers if the
current list of validation numbers has the possibility of being compromised,
which shall include:
a. After power has been recycled, or
b. Upon exit of a main door condition; and
4. Validation numbers must always be masked when viewable
through any display supported by the wagering terminal such that only the last
four digits of the validation number are visible.
G. Vouchers may be inserted in any terminal participating
in the validation system providing that no credits are issued to the terminal
prior to confirmation of voucher validity.
H. The offline voucher redemption may be validated as an
internal control process at the specific terminal that issued the voucher. A
manual handpay may be conducted for the offline voucher value.
11VAC10-47-100. Accounting and occurrence meter
requirements.
A. The required accounting meters are as follows:
1. Coin in, which accumulates the total value of all
wagers, whether the wagered amount results from the insertion of bills or
vouchers or deduction from a credit meter;
2. Coin out, which accumulates the total value of all
amounts directly paid by the terminal as a result of winning wagers, whether
the payback is made to a credit meter or any other means;
3. Attendant paid jackpot, which accumulates the total
value of credits paid by an attendant resulting from a single wager, the amount
of which is not capable of being paid by the wagering terminal itself;
4. Attendant paid canceled credit, which accumulates the
total value paid by an attendant resulting from a patron-initiated cashout that
exceeds the physical or configured capability of the terminal to make the
proper payout amount;
5. Bill in, which accumulates the total value of currency
accepted. Each wagering terminal shall have a specific occurrence meter for
each denomination of currency accepted that records the number of bills
accepted of each denomination;
6. Voucher in, which accumulates the total value of all
wagering terminal vouchers accepted by the device;
7. Voucher out, which accumulates the total value of all
wagering terminal vouchers issued by the device;
8. Noncashable electronic promotion in, which accumulates
the total value of noncashable credits from vouchers accepted by the terminal;
9. Cashable electronic promotion in, which accumulates the
total value of cashable credits from vouchers accepted by the terminal;
10. Noncashable electronic promotion out, which accumulates
the total value of noncashable credits issued to vouchers by the device; and
11. Cashable electronic promotion out, which accumulates
the total value of cashable credits issued to vouchers by the device.
B. Additional required occurrence meters are as follows:
1. Cashable promotional credit wagered, which accumulates
the total value of promotional cashable credits that are wagered;
2. Games wagered, which accumulates the number of wagers
placed; and
3. Games won, which accumulates the number of wagers
resulting in a win to the patron.
C. Electronic accounting meters shall maintain and
calculate data to at least 10 digits in length.
D. Electronic accounting meters shall be maintained in
credit units equal to the denomination or in dollars and cents.
E. If the electronic accounting meter is maintained in
dollars and cents, eight digits must be used for the dollar amount and two
digits must be used for the cents amount.
F. Devices configured for multi-denomination wagering
shall display the units in dollars and cents at all times.
G. Any time the meter exceeds 10 digits or after
9,999,999,999 has been exceeded, the meter must roll over to zero.
H. Occurrence meters shall be at least eight digits in
length but are not required to automatically roll over.
I. Meters shall be identified so that they can be clearly
understood in accordance with their function.
J. A wagering terminal shall maintain sufficient
electronic metering to be able to display the following:
1. The total monetary value of all items accepted on the
terminal;
2. The total number of all items accepted on the terminal;
3. For bills accepted, the number of bills for each bill
denomination; and
4. For all other notes accepted, the number of notes
accepted by note amount.
K. Meters can be on the server instead of the terminal.
11VAC10-47-110. Historical horse race specifications and
selection requirements.
A. The outcome of any historical horse race wager shall be
derived from the result of one or more historical horse races.
B. All historical horse races must be chosen at random
from a database of actual historical horse races. All races in the database
shall have a valid historical horse race result with details recorded at the
same level as other races in the database, and shall include:
1. Horse names;
2. Race location;
3. Race date; and
4. Jockey name.
C. In the case where a random number generator is used to
select the historical horse races for a wager, all possible races in the
database shall be available for selection.
11VAC10-47-120. Wagering terminal historical race display.
A. All wagering terminals shall have video displays that
clearly identify the entertaining game theme, if any, being used to offer
pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing. The video display shall make
available the rules of the historical horse racing wager and the award that
will be paid to the patron when the patron obtains a specific win.
B. All paytable information, rules of play, and help
screen information shall be available to a patron prior to placing a wager.
C. All wagering terminals shall have video displays that
make available to the patron the rules of any features or interactive functions
that may occur on the patron interface as part of the entertaining display of
the wager and its outcome.
D. The video display shall clearly indicate whether awards
are designated in credits or currency.
E. All wagering terminals shall display the following
information to the patron at all times the wagering terminal is available for
patron wager input:
1. The patron's current credit balance in currency or
credits;
2. The current bet amount;
3. The amount won for the last completed game until the
next game starts or betting options are modified;
4. The patron options selected for the last completed game
until the next game starts or a new selection is made; and
5. A disclaimer stating "Malfunction Voids All
Pays" or some equivalent wording approved by the commission. This may be
presented as a permanent sign on the terminal.
F. The default game display upon terminal reset shall not
be a false winning outcome.
G. Entertaining game features that simulate bonus or free
games shall meet the following requirements:
1. The initiation of a bonus or free game shall only be
based on the result of the wager placed by the patron on the result of the
historical horse race selected for the wager;
2. The bonus or free game shall not require additional
money to be wagered by the patron;
3. The entertaining display shall make it clear to the
patron that the patron is in bonus mode to avoid the possibility of the patron
unknowingly leaving the wagering terminal while in a bonus mode; and
4. If the bonus or free game requires an input from the
patron, the terminal shall provide a means to complete the bonus or free game
from a touch screen or hard button.
H. Electronic metering displays shall:
1. At all times include all credits or cash available for
the patron to wager or cash out unless the terminal is in an error or
malfunction state. This information is not required when the patron is viewing
a menu or help screen item;
2. Reflect the value of every prize at the end of a wager
and add it to the patron's credit meter, except for handpays; and
3. Show the cash value collected by the patron upon a
cashout unless the terminal is in an error or malfunction state.
I. A wager is complete when the final transfer to the
patron's credit meter takes place or when all credits wagered are lost.
11VAC10-47-130. Required reports for wagering on historical
horse races; audit and inspection by the commission.
A. All systems used for pari-mutuel wagering on historical
horse races shall provide financial reports for individual approved wager model
configurations and total pool amounts for each pool. Reports shall be available
at the end of the wagering day or upon request by the commission with
information current since the end of the last wagering day. The reports shall
include:
1. Current values of each pari-mutuel wagering pool;
2. Total amounts wagered for all pools;
3. Total amounts won by patrons for all pools;
4. Total commission withheld for all pools;
5. Total breakage for all pools, where applicable;
6. Total amount wagered at each terminal;
7. Total amount won by patrons at a terminal;
8. The amount wagered on each mathematical model configuration
and the amount won from each mathematical model configuration offered at a
terminal;
9. Total amount of each type of financial instrument
inserted into a terminal;
10. Total amount cashed out in voucher or handpays at a
terminal; and
11. Taxable win events including:
a. Time and date of win;
b. Wagering terminal identification number;
c. Amount wagered resulting in taxable win;
d. Taxable amount won; and
e. Withholding amount.
B. As provided in subdivision 2 of § 59.1-369 of the Code
of Virginia, the commission or its authorized representatives may, at any time,
conduct an audit or inspection of the financial reports, software, terminals,
or other equipment used by a licensee in conducting operations under this
chapter.
11VAC10-47-140. Permits required.
All racing officials employed in a satellite facility or
at a significant infrastructure facility that offers pari-mutuel wagering on
historical horse racing shall apply for permits under the provisions of
11VAC10-50. All participants employed in such facilities shall apply for
permits under the provisions of 11VAC10-60.
11VAC10-47-150. Filing of application; fee.
An applicant for a license to offer pari-mutuel wagering
on historical horse racing shall apply for a license to conduct the same with
the commission at its offices, with the application tendered by hand delivery,
certified mail, or recognized overnight courier service with delivery
confirmation to the attention of the executive secretary of the commission. An
application fee of $1,000 shall be paid for each location where the applicant
seeks to offer pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing.
11VAC10-47-160. Required information.
An application for a license to conduct pari-mutuel
wagering on historical horse racing shall contain the materials and information
specified in 11VAC10-40-130 through 11VAC10-40-280. The applicant may reference
its materials provided for a satellite facility license or significant
infrastructure limited license as part of its application for a license to offer
pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing. The application shall also
contain detailed information on the games to be offered by the applicant,
including information demonstrating compliance with the requirements of this
chapter. After review of the application, the executive secretary may request
the applicant provide additional information, which the applicant shall
promptly tender to the commission. Failure to provide information contained in
this chapter, or as requested by the commission, shall be grounds for the
commission to deny the request for a license to conduct pari-mutuel wagering on
historical horse racing.
11VAC10-47-170. Duration of license; transfer.
A license for conducting pari-mutuel wagering on
historical horse racing shall be effective for one calendar year or so long as
the licensee shall hold a significant infrastructure limited license or
satellite facility license for the particular location, whichever is shorter. A
licensee may not transfer its license, or assign responsibility for compliance
with the conditions of its license, to any party, including, without
limitation, a transfer of effective control of the licensee, without commission
approval.
11VAC10-47-180. Simulcast operations.
For any satellite facility that offers pari-mutuel
wagering on historical horse racing, the following conditions shall apply:
1. A licensee may not reduce, limit, or otherwise alter the
nature or extent of its simulcast operations if it offers pari-mutuel wagering
on historical horse racing without commission approval.
2. Any licensee must provide the following minimum
simulcast offerings:
a. An average daily simulcast schedule of not less than 14
racetracks, unless otherwise approved by the commission for a specific
facility;
b. At least two tellers dedicated to simulcast wagering, or
one teller for every 200 historical horse racing terminals at the satellite
facility, whichever number is greater; and
c. At least 20 self-service tote machines dedicated to
simulcast wagering at each satellite facility, unless otherwise approved by the
commission for a specific facility.
3. The licensee must promote simulcast wagering inside its
satellite facility and make available televisions broadcasting simulcast
signal, tote machines, and tellers in a prominent location for use by patrons.
4. The commission may authorize a licensee to provide
historical racing terminals at a satellite facility located in a jurisdiction
with valid and unexpired referenda on pari-mutuel wagering in accordance with
the following limits on the total number of historical racing terminals located
in such jurisdiction:
a. Up to 700 terminals in a jurisdiction with a population
of 120,000 or greater;
b. Up to 300 terminals in a jurisdiction with a population
between 60,000 and 120,000; and
c. Up to 150 terminals in a jurisdiction with a population
of 60,000 or less.
The population of a jurisdiction shall be determined based
upon the most recent University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center population
estimates.
5. Any such satellite facility must receive all appropriate
local government authorizations.
6. In no circumstance shall the total number of historical
racing terminals located in a jurisdiction set forth in subdivision 4 of this
section exceed 25% of the total limit for such jurisdiction absent formal
approval by the relevant city or town council or county board of supervisors of
the jurisdiction.
7. In no circumstance shall the combined statewide total
number of historical racing terminals located at satellite facilities and
significant infrastructure facilities exceed 3,000.
[ 8. The commission shall authorize an additional 600
historical racing terminals each time a local referendum required by
§ 58.1-4123 of the Code of Virginia is approved, provided that the total
number of additional machines authorized pursuant to this section shall not
exceed 2,000 statewide.
a. This increase in historical racing terminals shall not
apply with respect to any city where a significant infrastructure limited
licensee, as defined in § 59.1-365 of the Code of Virginia, or the
affiliate of such licensee, is awarded a casino operator's license.
b. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section and
subject to the local referendum requirements of § 59.1-391 of the Code of
Virginia, for the terminals specifically authorized in this section, the
commission shall authorize up to 1,650 terminals in a satellite facility in a
metropolitan area with a population in excess of 2.5 million located in a
jurisdiction that has passed a referendum pursuant to the requirements of
§ 59.1-391 of the Code of Virginia prior to January 1, 2020, and 500
terminals in a metropolitan area with a population in excess of 300,000,
provided that no additional terminals authorized pursuant to this subsection
shall be located within 35 miles of an eligible host city as described in
§ 58.1-4107 of the Code of Virginia.
(1) No satellite facility shall be authorized in any
locality that is included in the Regional Improvement Commission established in
the fifth enactment clause of Chapter 1197 of the 2020 Acts of Assembly.
(2) Population determinations for purposes of this
subsection shall be based on the 2018 population estimates from the Weldon
Cooper Center for Public Service of the University of Virginia.
9. The tax rate for any terminal added pursuant to
subdivision 8 of this section shall be calculated so that the licensee shall
retain 1.6% of such pool to be distributed as follows:
a. 0.96% to the Commonwealth as a license tax; and
b. If generated (i) at a racetrack, 0.64% to the locality
in which the racetrack is located or (ii) at a satellite facility, 0.32% to the
locality in which the satellite facility is located and 0.32% to the Virginia
locality in which the racetrack is located.
10. For any local referendum passed pursuant to § 59.1-391
after July 1, 2020, the commission shall not authorize any additional satellite
facilities as defined in § 59.1-365 of the Code of Virginia, or additional
simulcast wagering terminals pursuant to this section, during a period of two
years after July 1, 2020. ]
11VAC10-47-190. Significant infrastructure limited licensee
operations.
For any significant infrastructure limited licensee that
offers pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing, the following
conditions shall apply:
1. For each calendar year, a licensee in accordance with
11VAC10-20-200 shall submit to the commission a request for live racing days at
its significant infrastructure facility that includes at least:
a. Fifteen days of live racing, consisting of not less than
six races per day; or
b. One day of live racing, consisting of not less than six
races per day, for every 100 historical racing terminals installed at such
facility together with any satellite facility owned, operated, controlled,
managed, or otherwise affiliated directly or indirectly with such licensee,
whichever number shall be greater.
2. In no circumstance shall the total number of historical
racing terminals at any significant infrastructure facility exceed 700
terminals.
3. Live racing dates shall be assigned by the commission
and conducted in accordance with the procedure in 11VAC10-20-220.
[ 4. For every 100 additional terminals authorized
pursuant to subdivision 8 of 11VAC10-47-180, the total number of live horse
racing days held shall be increased by one day. ]
11VAC10-47-200. Responsible gaming.
A. A licensee shall implement a program to promote
responsible gaming by its patrons and provide details of the same to the
commission. At a minimum, such program shall require:
1. Posting in a conspicuous place in every place where
pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing is conducted a sign that bears
a toll-free number approved by the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling or
other organizations that provide assistance to problem gamblers;
2. Providing informational leaflets or other similar
materials at the licensee's facilities on the dangers associated with problem
gambling;
3. Including in the licensee's promotional and marketing
materials information on problem gambling and organizations that provide
assistance to problem gamblers;
4. Routine auditing of patron activity to identify patrons
who have suffered significant financial losses in repeated visits to the
licensee's facilities and providing such patrons with information on
organizations that provide assistance to problem gamblers;
5. If the licensee holds a license from the Virginia
Alcohol Beverage Control Authority to serve alcoholic beverages, training for
employees to identify patrons who have consumed excessive amounts of alcohol to
prevent such patrons from continuing to engage in wagering activity while
impaired;
6. Partnership with the Virginia Council on Problem
Gambling, the National Council on Problem Gambling, or other similar
organization to identify and promote best practices for preventing problem
gambling;
7. Training for all employees who have contact with patrons
as well as administrative and corporate staff members that shall include skills
and procedures to respond to situations where a patron exhibits warning signs
of a gambling problem or where a patron discloses they may have a gambling
problem. Such employees and staff should be trained immediately upon their
hiring and retrained and tested regularly; and
8. Ensuring that any request by a patron who wishes to
self-exclude from the licensee's facilities is honored by the licensee.
B. A licensee shall report annually to the commission and
make a copy available to the public on its efforts to meet subsection A of this
section, its efforts to identify problem gamblers, and steps taken to:
1. Prevent such individuals from continuing to engage in
pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse racing; and
2. Provide assistance to these individuals to address
problem gambling activity.
VA.R. Doc. No. R19-5684; Filed August 25, 2020, 1:59 p.m.