An Act to Update the Laws Regarding the Sale of Pari-mutuel Pools for Simulcast Races
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2260
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Amends: 8 MRSA §275-B, 8 MRSA §275-C

Legislative Document
No. 2260
S.P. 977
In Senate, March 12, 2024
An Act to Update the Laws Regarding the Sale of Pari-mutuel Pools 
for Simulcast Races
Reported by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec for the Joint Standing Committee on 
Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Public Law 2023, chapter 440, section 13.
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  8 MRSA §275-B, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 142, §1, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Racetracks.  A person licensed pursuant to section 271 to conduct harness horse 
racing with pari-mutuel betting may sell pari-mutuel pools and common pari-mutuel pools 
for simulcast races.  The seller must be within the enclosure of the racetrack where the 
licensed race or race meet is conducted or within the licensee's slot machine facilities 
licensed pursuant to section 1011. Pari-mutuel pools and common pari-mutuel pools for 
simulcast races may be sold only:
A.  Within the enclosure of the racetrack where the licensed race or race meet is 
conducted;
B.  Within the racing licensee's slot machine facilities licensed pursuant to section 
1011;
C.  Within facilities owned or controlled by federally recognized Indian tribes in the 
State; or
D.  Within facilities owned or leased by the racing licensee and approved by the 
commission and the municipality in which the facility is located.
Sec. 2.  8 MRSA §275-B, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2023, c. 51, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 3.  8 MRSA §275-C, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 406, §4, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Authority.  A person authorized to sell pari-mutuel pools on horse racing may sell 
common pari-mutuel pools for simulcast races.  The sale must be conducted within the 
enclosure of the licensee's racetrack, at the licensee's slot machine facilities licensed 
pursuant to section 1011, at the licensee's off-track betting facility or at a facility approved 
by the commission in accordance with section 275‑B, subsection 3.  The sale may be 
conducted only:
A.  Within the enclosure of the racing licensee's racetrack;
B.  Within the racing licensee's slot machine facilities licensed pursuant to section 
1011;
C.  Within facilities owned or controlled by federally recognized Indian tribes in the 
State;
D.  Within facilities owned or leased by the racing licensee and approved by the 
commission and the municipality in which the facility is located; or
E.  At the off-track betting licensee's off-track betting facility.
SUMMARY
This bill is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs 
pursuant to Public Law 2023, chapter 440 and amends the provision of law that allows a 
person to sell pari-mutuel pools and common pari-mutuel pools for simulcast races by 
expanding the locations that a person is authorized to sell from to include within facilities 
owned or controlled by federally recognized Indian tribes in the State or within facilities 
owned or leased by the racing licensee and approved by the State Harness Racing 
Commission and the municipality in which the facility is located. 
The bill also repeals the provisions related to the State Harness Racing Commission 
authorizing a person licensed to conduct harness horse racing with pari-mutuel betting to 
sell pari-mutuel pools and common pari-mutuel pools for simulcast races at a facility if it 
is located within the same county as the commercial track where the race or races are 
conducted, it is not located within the same municipality as an off-track betting facility and 
the municipal officers of the municipality in which the facility is located approve the sale 
of pari-mutuel pools or common pari-mutuel pools at the facility. 
The committee has not taken a position on the substance of this bill. By reporting this 
bill out, the committee is not suggesting and does not intend to suggest that it agrees or 
disagrees with any aspect of this bill. The committee is reporting the bill out for the sole 
purpose of having a bill printed that can be referred to the committee for an appropriate 
public hearing and subsequent processing in the normal course. The committee is taking 
this action to ensure clarity and transparency in the legislative review of the proposals 
contained in the bill.