SB0661 Summary

• Allows pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse races (races run in the past) with a 1% state tax on such wagering, separate from the existing 3.5% tax on simulcast races.

• Permits casino license holders to obtain race meeting licenses to conduct horse racing and wagering, subject to a 50-mile distance restriction from other licensed racetracks.

• Establishes a horse racing advisory commission within the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to oversee racing procedures, make legislative recommendations, and allocate funding for promotion, equine research, and aftercare programs.

• Allocates 10% of tax revenue from pari-mutuel wagering on historical horse races to the horse racing advisory commission and 90% to the Michigan agriculture equine industry development fund.

• Modifies track license eligibility to allow local units of government holding previous track licenses to obtain new licenses without further application.