HLS 25RS-902 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 547
BY REPRESENTATIVE BOYER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
RACING/HORSE: Authorizes fixed odds wagering on horse races
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 4:149(A) and R.S. 27:44(22), 205(30), 602(introductory
3 paragraph), (19), and (22), and 625(G)(4) and to enact R.S. 4:200 and R.S. 27:86(E),
4 249.1(E), 603(A)(2)(a)(xvii), 608(B)(3), and 612, relative to pari-mutuel wagering;
5 to authorize fixed odds wagering on horse racing; to provide for definitions; to create
6 the Fixed Odds Horse Wagering Purse Supplement Fund; to provide a percentage of
7 proceeds to credited to the Fixed Odds Horse Wagering Purse Supplement Fund; to
8 provide for the allocation of monies from the fund; to provide for the limitation on
9 certain types of wagers; to provide for the duties of the Louisiana Gaming Control
10 Board; to provide for rulemaking; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for
11 related matters.
12Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13 Section 1. R.S. 4:149(A) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 4:200 is hereby
14enacted to read as follows:
15 §149. Wagering; rules and regulations
16 A. The commission may prescribe rules and regulations under which shall
17 be conducted all horse races upon the results of which there is wagering. The
18 commission shall, as may be necessary, prescribe additional special rules and
19 regulations applicable separately to thoroughbreds and quarter horses. The
20 commission shall make rules governing, permitting, and regulating the wagering on
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1 horse races under the form of mutuel wagering by patrons, known as pari-mutuel
2 wagering, whether on live or historical horse races. Only those persons receiving a
3 license from the commission may conduct this type of wagering, and shall restrict
4 this form of wagering to any space within the race meeting grounds or an offtrack
5 wagering facility, as determined solely by the commission. All Except as provided
6 in R.S. 27:612, all other forms of wagering on the result of horse races are illegal.
7 * * *
8 §200. Fixed Odds Horse Wagering Purse Supplement Fund; creation
9 A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special fund to be known
10 as the Fixed Odds Horse Wagering Supplement Fund, hereafter referred to in this
11 Section as the "fund".
12 B. Any appropriation by the legislature to the commission from the fund
13 shall be utilized to supplement purses as provided in this Section.
14 C. Monies in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same
15 manner as monies in the state general fund. Interest earned on the investments of
16 monies in the fund shall be deposited in and credited to the fund. Unexpended and
17 unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the
18 fund.
19 D. Monies in the fund shall only be withdrawn pursuant to an appropriation
20 by the legislature solely to implement the provisions of this Section.
21 E. Each fiscal year, the commission shall allocate any appropriations
22 received pursuant to R.S. 27:625(G)(4) as follows:
23 (1) Seventy percent of the funds appropriated to the commission pursuant to
24 this Section shall be allocated and provided to the licensed racing associations in the
25 state that conduct live horse racing on the basis of the proportion of the number of
26 thoroughbred race days each association conducted for the preceding year bears to
27 the total number of thoroughbred race days conducted statewide for the preceding
28 year, and such funds shall be used solely to supplement purses in accordance with
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1 a schedule or formula established by the purse committee of the Louisiana
2 Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
3 (2) Thirty percent of the funds appropriated to the commission pursuant to
4 this Section shall be allocated and provided to the licensed racing associations in the
5 state which conduct live horse racing on the basis of the proportion of the number
6 of quarter horse race days each association conducted for the preceding year bears
7 to the total number of quarter horse race days conducted statewide for the preceding
8 year, and such funds shall be used solely to supplement purses in accordance with
9 a schedule or formula established by the purse committee of the Louisiana Quarter
10 Horse Breeders Association.
11 * * *
12 Section 2. R.S. 27:44(22), 205(30), 602(introductory paragraph), (19), and (22), and
13625(G)(4) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 27:86(E), 249.1(E),
14603(A)(2)(a)(xvii), 608(B)(3), and 612 are hereby enacted to read as follows:
15 §44. Definitions
16 * * *
17 (22)(a) "Racehorse wagering" means wagers placed on horse racing
18 conducted under the pari-mutuel form of wagering at licensed racing facilities that
19 is accepted by a licensed racehorse wagering operator under the provisions of this
20 Chapter.
21 (b) "Fixed odds wagering on horse races" means the acceptance of sports
22 wagers on a sports event of a live or simulcast horse race with predetermined odds.
23 Fixed odds wagering on horse races shall only occur in strict compliance with R.S.
24 27:612. The wager may be combined with other sports wagers on other sporting
25 events as authorized by this Chapter.
26 * * *
27 §86. Issuance of permit to conduct racehorse wagering
28 * * *
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1 E. Acceptance of fixed odds wagering on horse races shall only be conducted
2 pursuant to R.S. 27:612.
3 * * *
4 §205. Definitions
5 When used in this Chapter, the following terms have these meanings:
6 * * *
7 (30)(a) "Racehorse wagering" means wagers placed on horse racing
8 conducted under the pari-mutuel form of wagering at licensed racing facilities that
9 are accepted by a licensed racehorse wagering operator in accordance with the
10 provisions of this Chapter.
11 (b) "Fixed odds wagering on horse races" means the acceptance of sports
12 wagers on a sports event of a live or simulcast horse race with predetermined odds.
13 Fixed odds wagering on horse races shall only occur in strict compliance with R.S.
14 27:612. The wager may be combined with other sports wagers on other sporting
15 events as authorized by this Chapter.
16 * * *
17 §249.1. Issuance of permit to conduct racehorse wagering
18 * * *
19 E. Acceptance of fixed odds wagering on horse races shall only be conducted
20 pursuant to R.S. 27:612.
21 * * *
22 §602. Definitions
23 For purposes of this Chapter, the following terms shall have the following
24 meanings ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
25 * * *
26 (19)(a) "Racehorse wagering" means wagers placed on horse racing
27 conducted under the pari-mutuel form of wagering that are accepted by an offtrack
28 wagering facility licensee as defined in R.S. 4:211 in accordance with the provisions
29 of Chapter 4 of Title 4 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and a board and
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1 Louisiana State Racing Commission approved agreement between the licensee and
2 the offtrack wagering facility licensee or a board and Louisiana State Racing
3 Commission approved plan of operation.
4 (b) "Fixed odds wagering on horse races" means the acceptance of sports
5 wagers on a sports event of a live or simulcast horse race with predetermined odds.
6 Fixed odds wagering on horse races shall only occur in strict compliance with R.S.
7 27:612. The wager may be combined with other sports wagers on other sporting
8 events as authorized by this Chapter.
9 * * *
10 (22)(a) "Sports event" means any professional sport or athletic event, any
11 collegiate sport or athletic event, any amateur sport or athletic event, any Olympic
12 or international sports competition event, any competitive video game or other
13 electronic sports event, or any other special event or competition of relative skill as
14 authorized by the board to be a sports event for purposes of this Chapter.
15 (b) A "sports event" may include racing as defined in R.S. 4:143 and subject
16 to the requirements set forth in R.S. 27:612.
17 (c) "Sports event" shall not include high school sports, youth events, any
18 international sports events where the majority of the participants are under the age
19 of eighteen years, fantasy sports contests as provided in Chapter 6 of this Title, and
20 any event prohibited by law.
21 * * *
22 §603. Gaming Control Board; state police; duties and powers
23 A.
24 * * *
25 (2)(a) In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, the board shall:
26 * * *
27 (xvii) Establish guidelines for the acceptance of fixed odds horse race wagers
28 pursuant to R.S. 27:622.
29 * * *
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1 §608. Limitations on wagering
2 * * *
3 B.
4 * * *
5 (3) An operator shall not knowingly accept a wager from a person who is a
6 jockey, horseman as defined in R.S. 4:143, including their employees, or a racing
7 official as defined in R.S. 4:143 who is participating in the horse racing sports event
8 on which the person is attempting to place the wager.
9 * * *
10 §612. Fixed odds wagering on horse races
11 A. "Fixed odds wagering on horse races" means the acceptance of sports
12 wagers on a sports event of a live or simulcast horse race with predetermined odds.
13 B. "Fixed odds wager on horse races" means a sum of money or
14 representation of value risked by a player on an occurrence associated with a sports
15 event involving race horses for which the outcome is uncertain. The term includes
16 single-race bets, teaser bets, moneyline bets, in-race wagering, proposition bets,
17 straight bets, and parlays.
18 (1) Net gaming proceeds from all fixed odds wagers on horse races, other
19 than parlays, shall be allocated as provided in R.S. 27:625(G)(4)(a)(ii) and shall be
20 credited to the Fixed Odds Horse Wagering Purse Supplement Fund established by
21 R.S. 4:200.
22 (2) Net gaming proceeds from all fixed odds wagers on horse races, in
23 conjunction with a parlay bet with other sports event other than another horse racing
24 event, shall be allocated as provided in R.S. 27:625(G)(4)(a)(i) and shall be credited
25 to the Sports Wagering Purse Supplement Fund established by R.S. 4:199.
26 C.(1) The licensee or its sports wagering platform may accept fixed odds
27 wagers on horse races conducted out of state, in accordance with the Interstate
28 Horseracing Act of 1978, 15 U.S.C. 3001, et seq.
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1 (2) The licensee or its sports wagering platform may accept fixed odds wagers
2 on horse races conducted in this state after obtaining consent of the host racetrack and
3 recognized horseman's group.
4 * * *
5 §625. State tax; levy
6 * * *
7 G. After complying with the provisions of Subsection D of this Section, each
8 fiscal year the state treasurer shall credit the following amounts to the following
9 funds:
10 * * *
11 (4)(a)(i) Two and one-half percent of the monies collected pursuant to this
12 Section shall be credited to the Sports Wagering Purse Supplement Fund established
13 by R.S. 4:199.
14 (ii) Five percent of the net gaming proceeds from fixed odds wagering on
15 horse races shall be credited to the Fixed Odds Horse Wagering Purse Supplement
16 Fund established by R.S. 4:200.
17 (b)(i) Monies in the Sports Wagering Purse Supplement Fund shall only be
18 withdrawn pursuant to an appropriation by the legislature and monies shall be
19 appropriated to the Louisiana State Racing Commission solely for the uses and in
20 proportion provided in R.S. 4:199.
21 (ii) Monies in the Fixed Odds Horse Wagering Purse Supplement Fund shall
22 only be withdrawn pursuant to an appropriation by the legislature and monies shall
23 be appropriated to the Louisiana State Racing Commission solely for the uses and in
24 proportion provided in R.S. 4:200.
25 * * *
26 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
27signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
28by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
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1vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
2effective on the day following such approval.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 547 Original 2025 Regular Session Boyer
Abstract: Authorizes fixed odds wagering on horse races.
Proposed law defines "fixed odds wagering on horse races" as the acceptance of sports
wagers on a sports event of a live or simulcast horse race with predetermined odds.
Proposed law defines a "fixed odds wager on horse races" as a sum of money or
representation of value risked by a player on an occurrence associated with a sports event
involving race horses for which the outcome is uncertain. The term includes single-race bets,
teaser bets, moneyline bets, in-race wagering, proposition bets, straight bets, and parlays.
Proposed law authorizes the conducting of fixed odds wagering on horse races.
Proposed law creates the Fixed Odds Horse Wagering Purse Supplement Fund.
Proposed law provides that 70% of the monies in the fund goes to thoroughbred racing and
30% goes to quarter horse racing for purse supplements.
Proposed law provides that five percent of the net gaming proceeds from fixed odds wagering
on horse races shall be credited to the Fixed Odds Horse Wagering Purse Supplement Fund.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 4:149(A) and R.S. 27:44(22), 205(30), 602(intro. para.), (19), and (22), and
625(G)(4); Adds R.S. 4:200 and R.S. 27:86(E), 249.1(E), 603(A)(2)(a)(xvii), 608(B)(3), and
612)
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