MI HB4611

Authorizes the racing commissioner to issue third-party facilitator licenses to persons contracted by race meeting licensees to facilitate wagering on live and simulcast horse racing, subject to consumer protections and compliance with auditing requirements.

Restricts pari-mutuel wagering on live or simulcast horse races to only race meeting licensees and their licensed third-party facilitators, with all wagers placed by persons within Michigan either in person at licensed race meetings or electronically through licensed facilitators.

Makes it a felony punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment or a $10,000 fine for unlicensed persons to solicit or accept wagers on horse races from Michigan residents, with each act of solicitation or accepted wager constituting a separate offense.

Eliminates the pari-mutuel wagering tax on live racing programs while establishing a 3.5% tax on interstate and intertrack simulcast races, with intent to increase purses and capital improvements at licensed racetracks.

Continues funding for the Michigan agriculture equine industry development fund through allocations for standardbred, thoroughbred, quarter horse, Appaloosa, and Arabian horse breed programs, research grants, and compulsive gaming prevention.