reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 7 - Puerto Rico Lottery (§§ 111 — 128) › § 127b - Establisment of lottery office

Any person who opens, establishes or keeps for himself or for another person, an office or location for the sale or registration of tickets of any lottery, or who through printing, manuscripts or otherwise announces or publishes the fact of having established, open or installed such office shall incur a misdemeanor.
History —May 15, 1947, No. 465, p. 1022, added as § 21 on Sept. 15, 2004, No. 321, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 7 - Puerto Rico Lottery (§§ 111 — 128) › § 127c - Compensation for ensuring result

Any person who assures or receives any compensation for ensuring the favorable or adverse result of any ticket of any lottery, whether or not the draw takes place in Puerto Rico, or who receives any compensation for committing to restore any amount of money or any other thing whether or not any lottery ticket wins, or whether or not such lottery is drawn on a certain day or in a certain order; or who promises or agrees to pay any amount of money or to deliver any materials, litigious objects or goods, or to refrain from something in favor of any person, with or without any compensation, in view of any event or contingency that depends upon the luck of the draw of any lottery ticket; or who publishes any announcement or proposition with the aforementioned purposes shall incur a misdemeanor.
History —May 15, 1947, No. 465, p. 1022, added as § 22 on Sept. 15, 2004, No. 321, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 7 - Puerto Rico Lottery (§§ 111 — 128) › § 127d - Securities and objects; seizure

Any securities and objects offered in sale or for their distribution in violation of any of the provisions of §§ 111—127e of this title shall be seized in favor of the Commonwealth Government, being claimable in trial, through a claim filed or a procedure initiated by the Secretary of Justice or any prosecutor, on behalf of the People of Puerto Rico. Upon filing the claim, the seizure of the goods or objects mentioned in the claim shall be ordered, and the procedure established by the Uniform Seizure Act shall be followed.
History —May 15, 1947, No. 465, p. 1022, added as § 23 on Sept. 15, 2004, No. 321, § 6.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 7 - Puerto Rico Lottery (§§ 111 — 128) › § 127e - Leasing of building to establish lottery

Any person who leases or allows the use of any building or vehicle, vessel or part thereof knowing that it shall be used to establish, direct or draw any lottery, or for the sale of tickets of a lottery shall incur a misdemeanor.
History —May 15, 1947, No. 465, p. 1022, added as § 24 on Sept. 15, 2004, No. 321, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 7 - Puerto Rico Lottery (§§ 111 — 128) › § 128 - Administration of oaths by Bureau of Lottery personnel

(a) The Chief, the Assistant Chief, the Administrative Assistant, and the inspectors of the Bureau of the Lottery are hereby empowered to administer oaths in connection with all matters appertaining to the law, regulations and general administration of the Lottery of Puerto Rico.
(b) Any oath or sworn statement taken or made before any of the persons authorized by this section to administer oaths, shall be administered and made in the manner most binding on the conscience of the person who takes the oath, and under the penalties established by law for the offense of injury; Provided, That the oaths so taken shall be fee free.
History —Apr. 30, 1948, No. 59, p. 116, §§ 1, 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 9 - Bingo Games (§§ 151 — 157) › § 151 - Bingo authorized for charity or educational purposes

It is hereby prohibited to play the game of lotto or lottery known as “bingo,” for money, checks, credit or chips representing value. The preceding notwithstanding, the game of lotto or lottery known as “bingo,” is hereby authorized for charitable or educational ends, in nonprofit churches or lodges that have been established in Puerto Rico for not less than ten (10) years prior to the approval of this act, and in bona fide charitable organizations, through the acquisition of the licenses and the payment of the license fees as provided below, and said game shall be held in the actual premises of said institutions.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 242, p. 626, § 1; Apr. 15, 1988, No. 13, p. 65, § 1; Sept. 15, 2004, No. 319, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 9 - Bingo Games (§§ 151 — 157) › § 152 - Licenses—Application

Any church, lodge or bona fide charitable organization wishing to obtain a license under these provisions shall file a sworn application with the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico, stating the date on which it was organized, and stipulating the day of the week, the premises where, and the hours it wishes to hold the lotto or lottery game known as “bingo”, accompanying the application with internal revenue stamps to cover the fees prescribed in § 154 of this title.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 242, p. 626, § 2; Apr. 15, 1988, No. 13, p. 65, § 2, eff. 90 days after Apr. 15, 1988.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 9 - Bingo Games (§§ 151 — 157) › § 153 - Licenses—Issuance

The Secretary of State is hereby empowered to issue the licenses referred to in § 152 of this title to such churches, lodges, or bona fide charitable institutions that certify their condition as such and that accompany their applications with the fees provided by § 154 of this title in internal revenue stamps which shall be cancelled and affixed to the corresponding licenses.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 242, p. 626, § 3; Apr. 15, 1988, No. 13, p. 65, § 3, eff. 90 days after Apr. 15, 1988.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 9 - Bingo Games (§§ 151 — 157) › § 154 - Fees

The fees to operate the lotto or lottery game known as “bingo” in the churches, lodges and bona fide charitable organizations that have applied therefor and have met the other provisions in this chapter shall be of two hundred dollars ($200) a year for each fiscal year or fraction thereof, and such license shall be renewed annually prior to July 1 of each year and such fees shall be payable in internal revenue stamps which shall be cancelled and affixed to the respective licenses. The moneys so collected shall be covered into the general funds of the Treasury of Puerto Rico.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 242, p. 626, § 4; Apr. 15, 1988, No. 13, p. 65, § 4, eff. 90 days after Apr. 15, 1988.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 9 - Bingo Games (§§ 151 — 157) › § 155 - Regulations and restrictions

The licenses issued by the Secretary of State as provided in § 153 of this title, shall authorize the holding of only one lotto or lottery game known as bingo a week, and the license shall state the premises where and the day of the week and the hour on which such game shall be held.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 242, p. 626, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 9 - Bingo Games (§§ 151 — 157) › § 156 - Annual reports

Any church, lodge and bona fide charitable organization obtaining a license for the lotto or lottery game known as “bingo” under the provisions of this chapter shall be obliged to file in the Department of State, on or before the 15th day of March of each year, a report stating the donations, or the charitable or educational purposes, made or carried out during the immediately preceding calendar year while the license has been in force; Provided, That in case the said report is not rendered, the license of the church, lodge or bona fide charitable organization that fails to comply with this requirement shall be null and void.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 242, p. 626, § 6; Apr. 15, 1988, No. 13, p. 65, § 5, eff. 90 days after Apr. 15, 1988.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 9 - Bingo Games (§§ 151 — 157) › § 157 - Penalties

Any organization, institution or person who in violation of this chapter holds lotto or lottery games known as “bingo” shall incur a misdemeanor.
History —May 8, 1950, No. 242, p. 626, § 7; Apr. 15, 1988, No. 13, p. 65, § 6; Sept. 15, 2004, No. 319, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 10 - Game of Dominoes Act (§§ 161 — 164) › § 161 - Public policy

Puerto Rican society is in constant evolution. The quickening pace of daily life takes from the opportunity and the quality of our spare time. In order to meet the challenges posed by this growing trend, it is indispensable to adopt recreational concepts within the framework of our values and skills of social conviviality—even more so, since the game of dominoes is economical and may also promote economic activity. We therefore declare the game of dominoes to be the official game of Puerto Rico. We thus reassert our statement of public policy in recognizing the value of the game of dominoes as part of our culture and our tradition as a people.
History —Nov. 9, 2010, No. 168, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 10 - Game of Dominoes Act (§§ 161 — 164) › § 162 - Definitions

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning provided for below:
(a) Department.— The Sports and Recreation Department.
(b) Game of Dominoes.— A game that is a tile game in which rectangular tiles are used, which are usually white on the face side and black on the reverse side, divided into two square ends, each of which is either blank or marked with one to six pips.
(c) Secretary.— The Secretary of the Sports and Recreation Department.
(d) Public Sports and Recreational Entities Register.— The register created under § 444 l of Title 3.
History —Nov. 9, 2010, No. 168, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 10 - Game of Dominoes Act (§§ 161 — 164) › § 163 - Register

The Secretary of the Sports and Recreation Department shall include any entities that so request and which meet the necessary requirements into the “Puerto Rico Public Sports and Recreational Register”.
History —Nov. 9, 2010, No. 168, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 10 - Game of Dominoes Act (§§ 161 — 164) › § 164 - Powers

The Secretary is hereby empowered to support and coordinate activities and events related to the game of dominoes in Puerto Rico.
History —Nov. 9, 2010, No. 168, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198 - Horse Racing Industry and Sport Act; short title

Sections 198—198y of this title shall be known as “Puerto Rico Horse Racing Industry and Sport Act”.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 65, § 1, eff. 30 days after July 2, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198a - Administration; creation

The Puerto Rican Horse Racing Industry and Sport Administration is hereby created as a public instrumentality to regulate everything connected with the horse racing sport in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and its powers, functions and duties shall be exercised through a Racing Board and a Racing Administrator.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 2, eff. 30 days after July 2, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198c - Horse Racing Board—Composition

(a) The Horse Racing Board shall be integrated by five (5) persons appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of four (4) years.
(b) If a vacancy occurs, the person appointed by the Governor to fill it shall discharge the duties of such position for the rest of the unexpired term.
(c) The Governor shall appoint one of the Board members as its Chairman; the Board shall appoint one of its members Interim Chairman.
(d) Removal of Horse Racing Board members. — The Governor can remove any member of the Horse Racing Board for just cause after bringing charges and granting a hearing.
(e) The Governor [shall] designate a Commissioner before whom the evidence will be presented, and he shall render a report to the First Executive with an analysis of the evidence and any pertinent recommendations. The member affected by the Governor’s decision may appeal said decision before the Court of First Instance within fifteen (15) days following his notice thereof in the cases in which there are errors of law in the Commissioner’s final determination.
(f) Compensation for members of the Horse Racing Board. — The members of the Horse Racing Board shall not earn a fixed salary, but they shall be reimbursed for the travel expenses incurred while rendering their official duties as members thereof, and be furthermore entitled to per diems equal to one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the minimum per diem established in § 29 of Title 2 for the members of the Legislature, except for the Chairperson of the Board, who shall receive a per diem equal to one hundred and seventy-five percent (175%) of the per diem received by the other members of the Board. The Chairperson of the Horse Racing Board shall be the recipient of the certification which according to the provisions of §§ 27a—37 of Title 2, is issued annually by the Puerto Rico Planning Board. The provisions of § 551 of Title 3, part of the Political Code, as amended, shall not apply to the members of the Horse Racing Board.
The members of the Horse Racing Board shall be entitled to receive per diems when attending official acts or activities as official representatives of the Horse Racing Board, without the need for quorum to appear on behalf and in representation of the Horse Racing Board during such official acts.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 4; July 3, 1999, No. 143, § 1; Jan. 5, 2002, No. 20, § 1; June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198d - Horse Racing Board—Secretary

(a) The Horse Racing Board shall designate a full-time Secretary who shall render his services at the discretion and satisfaction of the Board.
(b) The Secretary of the Board shall be custodian of the Seal, of all the books, documents, papers and the properties thereof; shall attend all the meetings of the Horse Racing Board and shall enter its proceedings faithfully in the Minutes Book; shall publish, serve, and certify, when needed, such rules, regulations, decisions, orders or resolutions issued; shall prepare the minutes of each session; shall prepare and keep a Registration and Filing Book which shall be known as the Register of Racing Records; shall prepare the dockets of the cases and hearings before the Board and shall serve the summons, warrants and notices with regard to the Board’s cases and affairs; shall take the witnesses’ oaths; shall advise the Chairman, or Acting Chairman, as the case may be, of any matter, within 48 hours after its filing, and shall carry out any other functions assigned by the Board.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 5, eff. 30 days after July 2, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198f - Horse Racing Board—Meetings; quorum

In order for the Horse Racing Board to make decisions and exercise its legal powers, a minimum of three (3) of its members shall be present at the session. When the Chairperson is unable to attend a session and no acting chairperson has been designated, the most senior member, or the member designated by agreement of the members present at the session shall preside.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 7; Jan. 5, 2002, No. 20, § 2; June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198g - Horse Racing Board—Internal regulation

The Horse Racing Board shall adopt such bylaws that it deems are needed for its organization, internal operations and to hold its meetings, which shall ensure the broadest participation of the components of the racing family.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 8, eff. 30 days after July 2, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198h - Horse Racing Board—Sessions

(a) The [Horse] Racing Board’s sessions shall be held regularly, and they may be called by its Chairman or by a majority of its members.
(b) All quasi-legislative sessions of the Horse Racing Board shall be deemed as public and the participation of any interested party shall be freely allowed during the session. A public record of every session, meeting or decision, shall be kept in the [Horse] Racing Board’s office, which may be inspected by the public during the Board’s regular working hours.
(c) The sessions of the Board shall be held at the seat of the Board in the Municipality of San Juan and shall be announced sufficiently in advance. However, the Horse Racing Board may, should it be deemed necessary, hold sessions or meetings outside of the Municipality of San Juan, in which case its members shall be entitled to receive the corresponding per diem as fixed in §§ 198—198y of this title.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 9; July 3, 1999, No. 143, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198i - Horse Racing Board—Seal

(a) Every order, resolution, decision or official document issued by the Horse Racing Board shall bear its official seal, which shall be duly registered with the Department of State, and without which no document shall be deemed as official.
(b) Once the seal, together with the signatures of the members of the Board and the Horse Racing Administrator have been registered with the Department of State, official cognizance shall be taken thereof.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 10, eff. 30 days after July 2, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198j - Horse Racing Administrator

(a) The Horse Racing Administrator shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of four (4) years, and until his successor is appointed and qualifies.
(b) The salary of the Horse Racing Administrator shall be fixed in the Operating Budget of the Government of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Act and may not be of less than seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) per year. The Governor may appropriate a differential of up to one third (1 / 3) of his/her salary.
(c) He/she may be substituted by the Governor at his/her discretion.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 11; May 22, 1995, No. 44, § 1; June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 5.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198l - Stewards

There shall be three (3) Horse Racing Stewards, a Chairperson and two (2) associate members, who shall be appointed by the Horse Racing Administrator and shall serve according to the criteria established by the Administrator.
The Stewards shall have the power to take oaths and statements concerning all those cases related to the holding of the races, as well as to issue orders to the operating enterprise and all other persons who hold licenses issued by the Horse Racing Industry and Sport Administration leading to the adoption of reasonable measures that may be needed during racing days for the protection and physical safety of the components of the racing industry and the general public. They shall likewise have the power to impose administrative sanctions for any violation of the law or the regulations while said events are being held. Said sanctions shall adjust to the provisions of §§ 198—198y of this title and to the regulations adopted by the Horse Racing Board. The duly constituted Horse Racing Stewards shall be the supreme authority while the races are being held. Sections 2101 et seq. of Title 3, shall not apply during the procedures held before the Stewards; Provided, That the Stewards shall guarantee due process of law.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 13; June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 7.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198n - Review—By the courts

(a) The final decisions, orders or resolutions of the Horse Racing Board may only be reviewed through an appeal for review by the Court of First Instance of Puerto Rico, solely with regard to errors of law, following the procedure framed in the Rules Applicable to Writs of Review of Administrative Decisions before the Court of First Instance, approved by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico. Before filing the petition for review, the reconsideration of the decision, order or resolution of the Horse Racing Board shall be requested by a motion to such effects, which the Horse Racing Board shall resolve within a term of ten (10) days.
(b) The petition for review provided herein shall be presented within a term of thirty (30) days after the corresponding final decision, order or resolution has been served on the injured party; Provided, That the appellant may only allege as errors of law in his appeal for review, those that he alleged in his motion for reconsideration before the Horse Racing Board.
(c) The Court of First Instance shall resolve the appeal for review provided by this section within thirty (30) days after it was submitted.
(d) Neither the filing of the motion for reconsideration provided herein, nor the issuing of the appeal for review by the Court of First Instance shall stop the effect of the decision, order, resolution or action which the Board has been asked to reconsider, or which has been appealed before the courts.
(e) No injunction nor any other temporary restrictive measure shall be issued which will prevent the execution of the orders or resolutions appealed without prior notice to, or hearing of the Board, the Horse Racing Administrator, the Stewards, or any other official, as the case may be. Every judicial process before the courts of justice shall take into account the legislative intention of giving the horse racing sport the maximum degree of autonomy compatible with law and equity.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 15, eff. 30 days after July 2, 1987.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198o - Granting licenses; special considerations

(a) No license whatsoever may be granted or renewed for horse racing activities to any person who has been convicted of violating any of the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act of Puerto Rico, §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 24, or who have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor that implies moral turpitude, until a minimum of five (5) years has elapsed from the date of the criminal act and the person has met all the conditions that the Horse Racing Administrator and the Horse Racing Board have provided by regulations.
(b) No license granted shall be in effect for more than four (4) years. Licenses shall be renewed according to the date of birth of the applicant; Provided, That the necessary documents and the payment of the corresponding fees shall be submitted each year according to the provisions of §§ 198—198y of this title and the Horse Racing Regulations. The licenses for juridical persons shall be renewed a year after their date of issue. The Horse Racing Administrator shall establish the process to be followed for granting licenses through an administrative order.
(c) The racetrack or racetracks may request authorization for transmitting races through the simulcasting process so as to broaden their local race program, receive bets on and obtain receipts from imported races. The discounts provided in § 198s of this title shall be applied to the receipts generated by the simulcast races. Any simulcasting shall be requested from and approved by the Board. The Racing Board shall establish through regulations the requirements for approving, in every particular case, the simulcast broadcast which shall operate independently from the local races.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 16; June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 9.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198p - Prohibition to officers and employees

(a) No member of the Horse Racing Board, nor the Horse Racing Administrator, nor any other official or employee of the Horse Racing Sport Administration, shall have any proprietary interest in the racetracks, nor in those horses that take part in the races, nor can they make wagers in horse races in Puerto Rico. Any violation of this section shall be sufficient cause for the removal of the official or employee.
(b) No official of the Horse Racing Industry and Sport Administration appointed by the Governor may work for an enterprise operating a racetrack until at least one (1) year has elapsed after ceasing in office.
(c) No official or employee of the racetracks who intervenes directly with any type of authorized betting may have any proprietary interest or share in the ownership of the horses that run in the horse races. The natural or juridical persons who operate the racetracks shall be advised of any violation of this section and the employee or official who is responsible for the violation shall cease as such, or the racetrack license shall be suspended as long as the person responsible remains as an employee of the racetrack; Provided, That before the Horse Racing Administrator requires the dismissal of the employee or the suspension of the license to operate the racetrack by the Horse Racing Board, the persons concerned shall be given the opportunity to be heard in their defense, on their own or through counsel, and to appeal for a review before the Court of First Instance.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 17; Aug. 12, 1988, No. 175, p. 826, § 3; June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 10.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198s - Deductions on bets

Natural or juridical persons who operate racetracks, or firms authorized to receive bets, shall make the following deductions therefrom:
(1) Parimutuel bets. — Of the gross amount wagered after deducting the racing agent’s commissions and the money bet on the winning horses, the following deductions shall be made:
(a) Twenty-five percent (25%) to be divided according to the agreement between the racetrack operator and the horse owners.
(b) Two point six percent (2.6%) for the Commonwealth Treasury’s General Fund.
(2) Daily double bets. — On the gross total wagered:
(a) Eleven percent (11%) for agent commissions.
(b) Twenty-six percent (26%) to be divided according to the agreement between the racetrack operator and the horse owners.
(c) One percent (1%) for the Commonwealth Treasury’s General Fund.
(3) Pool bets. — On the total gross wagered:
(a) Eleven percent (11%) for agent’s commission.
(b) Twenty-six percent (26%) to be divided according to the agreement between the racetrack operator and the horse owners.
(c) One percent (1%) for the Commonwealth Treasury’s General Fund.
(4) Other authorized bets. —
(a) Eleven percent (11%) for agent’s commission.
(b) Twenty percent (20%) to be divided according to the agreement between the racetrack operator and the horse owners.
(c) One percent (1%) for the Commonwealth General Fund.
(d) Five percent (5%) for the Breeders’ Fund.
(5) In the payoffs of the bets the winners shall not be paid for the first four (4) cents or fractions thereof, which shall be retained by the natural or juridical persons operating the racetrack, and deposited each day in a special bank account in a local banking institution where they will earn interest, to be redistributed as bonuses to the bettors. The redistribution shall be made on three (3) occasions during the calendar year, as provided by the Board through an order to such effect.
(6) The right to collect prizes shall expire after three (3) months counting from the day they are won, and such unclaimed money shall be remitted immediately by the corporation that owns the racetrack to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall distribute it as follows:
(a) Sixty percent (60%) of the amount thus remitted shall be covered into the Commonwealth Treasury’s General Fund, and
(b) forty percent (40%) of the amount thus remitted shall be covered into a special account destined for the Horse Racing Industry and Sport to defray the cost of the antidoping test contemplated in subsection (a)(5) of § 198k of this title; and for the improvement of the horse racing sport in general.
(7) All prizes won in the various wagers of the racing sport shall be exempted from the payment of income taxes.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, § 20; Aug. 11, 1994, No. 56, § 2; June 25, 1998, No. 100, § 11; July 1, 1999, No. 138, § 10; Aug. 11, 2002, No. 170, § 3; June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 13.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198t - Racehorse inventory

The racetrack operating enterprise shall maintain an inventory of the thoroughbred racehorses available for participating in races. The Horse Racing Administrator shall establish, through an administrative order, the dates on which said inventory shall be drafted. Provided, That said inventory shall be submitted to the office of the Horse Racing Administrator not later than thirty (30) days after being drafted.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, added as § 25 on June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 14.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198u - Taxation on horse owners

In order to stimulate the purchase of racehorses and foster reinvestments in the horse racing industry by horse owners, the excise tax on the prizes won by these in official races in Puerto Rico is hereby reduced from six percent (6%) to three percent (3%) as of the beginning of the natural year following the approval of this act; and from three percent (3%) to zero percent (0%) after the beginning of the second year.
This provision repeals all other provisions contained in any other law, including the Internal Revenue Code and the Excise Tax Law.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, added as § 26 on June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 15.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198v - Special account

The amount corresponding to the General Fund from unclaimed prizes shall be covered into the special account of the Puerto Rico Horse Racing Industry and Sport Administration. The latter shall use said funds as an incentive so that the horse owners may acquire more and better thoroughbred horses. The use of said funds shall be promulgated through regulations, which must be approved by the Horse Racing Board. The funds shall be used, but its uses shall not be limited to, allow the Administration to make donations and grant low-interest loans to owners for the acquisition of racehorses, as well as to acquire studhorses of proven quality to donate or lease their services at reasonable cost.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, added as § 27 on June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 16.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198x - Horse Racing Agents Commission Fund

The Board shall establish, through regulations, a Horse Racing Agents Commission Fund, which shall obtain the percentage of the net receipts on operations allotted in § 198y of this title to be distributed among the horse racing agents according to the provisions of said regulations.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, added as § 29 on June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 18.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11 - Horse Racing (§§ 181 — 198y) › § 198y - Distribution of net receipts proceeding from the operations of the electronic video games system

The net receipts proceeding from the operations of the electronic video games system shall be covered into a special account created by the operating enterprise. The amount to be distributed to the player in prizes shall not be less than eighty-three percent (83%) of the total value of the games played. This ratio shall be measured on the basis of the parameters to be established through regulations.
The operating enterprise shall distribute the net receipts from the operations in the following order and manner:
(a) If the electronic video games system is operated by the operating enterprise:
(1) Fifteen percent (15%) to the Horse Racing Agents Commission Fund, to be paid according to what was established through regulations;
(2) fifteen percent (15%) to be paid into the account for race prizes, and
(3) seventy percent (70%) to the operating enterprise.
(b) If the electronic video games system is operated by a provider:
(1) Fifteen percent (15%) to the Horse Racing Agents Commission Fund, to be paid according to what was established through regulations;
(2) fifteen percent (15%) to be paid into the account for race prizes, and
(3) the remainder
(A) the amount agreed upon by the provider and the operating enterprise shall be divided between the provider and the operating enterprise pursuant to the agreement between the operating enterprise and the provider.
Any remainder from the net receipts proceeding from the operations of the electronic video games system, after the items mentioned in subsections (a) and (b) have been covered, shall be paid and covered into the General Fund of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
History —July 2, 1987, No. 83, p. 296, added as § 30 on June 5, 2004, No. 139, § 19.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11A - Andadura Horse Races (§§ 201 — 204) › § 201 - Definitions

When used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning expressed hereinbelow:
(a) Andadura horse races. — Shall mean the art or sport of riding a horse at a fast trot, without reaching a gallop, in which the winning horse and jockey are the ones who reach the finish line first, without losing said gait.
(b) Department. — Shall mean the Sports and Recreation Department.
History —Sept. 2, 2000, No. 322, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11A - Andadura Horse Races (§§ 201 — 204) › § 202 - Recognition

The Andadura Horse Races sport is hereby recognized in Puerto Rico.
History —Sept. 2, 2000, No. 322, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11A - Andadura Horse Races (§§ 201 — 204) › § 203 - Powers of the Department

The Department is hereby conferred all the necessary power to direct, regulate, control and promote each and every one of the activities related to the Andadura Horse Races.
History —Sept. 2, 2000, No. 322, § 3.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 11A - Andadura Horse Races (§§ 201 — 204) › § 204 - Study to provide facilities

The Department shall conduct a study with the purpose to provide the facilities needed to practice the Andadura Horse Races sport in Puerto Rico, and to determine the existing places available to practice said sport.
History —Sept. 2, 2000, No. 322, § 4.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 13 - Dog Racing (§§ 221 — 231) › § 231 - Dog racing prohibited

Any person who holds or participates in the holding of a dog race in Puerto Rico, as well as any person who wages or bets on the result of a dog race, shall incur in a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment in jail for a maximum term of six (6) months, or by both penalties, in the discretion of the court.
History —June 4, 1957, No. 10, p. 30, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 16 - Act Prohibiting the Celebrations of the Running of the Bulls (§§ 261 — 261a) › § 261 - Prohibition and penalties

Any person who willfully and with malice aforethought should organize, initiate, instigate, promote, present or otherwise contribute to the breeding of bulls to be used for fights, exhibitions, frays, and other activities, or to hold bull fights, frays or other bull fighting exhibitions, shall incur a felony and upon conviction, shall be sanctioned by imprisonment for a minimum term of three (3) years or a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or both penalties, at the discretion of the court.
History —July 25, 1998, No. 176, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 16 - Act Prohibiting the Celebrations of the Running of the Bulls (§§ 261 — 261a) › § 261a - Exception to the prohibition of bull fights

No exhibition prepared for family enjoyment where no harm is done to the bull, cow or calf and is only a show, shall be prohibited by this chapter.
History —July 25, 1998, No. 176, § 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 17 - Cockfighting (§§ 281 — 300) › § 300 - Alejandro (Junior) Cruz Cockfighting Classic

(a) The third Saturday of March of each year is hereby established as fixed date for the celebration of that great sports event at Island level, which is the Alejandro (Junior) Cruz, Sportsman, Mayor and Legislator Cockfighting Classic.
(b) The Secretary of Sports and Recreation shall promulgate a yearly proclamation to inform the People of Puerto Rico of the celebration of the Alejandro (Junior) Cruz, Sportsman, Mayor and Legislator Cockfighting Classic, and in which he/she shall eulogize the figure of the illustrious Puerto Rican citizen, Alejandro (Junior) Cruz and on the relevance of the cockfighting sport.
History —Feb. 11, 1994, No. 8, §§ 1, 2.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 18 - Cockfighting Act (2004) › § 301 - Authorization as legal sport; cultural right

(a) Cockfighting is hereby authorized in Puerto Rico as a legal sport.
(b) The holding of cockfights in Puerto Rico is hereby established as a cultural right of all Puerto Ricans, pursuant to Section 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations, adopted by the General Assembly Resolution 217(iii) of December 10, 1948.
History —July 31, 2007, No. 98, §§ 2, 3, eff. 90 days after July 31, 2007.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 18 - Cockfighting Act (2004) › § 301c - Powers of the Secretary

The Secretary shall have the following powers:
(1) Issue cease and desist orders for any action or activity and upon previous notice, revoke, cancel, or suspend any authorization issued under the provisions of this chapter, and to prescribe the corrective terms and conditions he/she deems necessary to attain the purposes of said laws and regulations.
(2) Resort to the Court of First Instance to request the enforcement of any order issued by him/her.
(3) Close down any cockpit that, during the course of the cockfighting season, has failed to meet the safety requirements established by the Puerto Rico Firefighters Corps, the sanitation requirements established by the Department of Health, or whenever the Secretary determines that a cockpit is endangering the health [or] personal safety of employees, judges or visitors.
(4) Establish requirements on the design, location, and size of facilities devoted to the operation of cockpits.
(5) Impose, through an administrative order to the effect, rules and norms, as provided by the Gamecocks Act, in addition to any other he/she deems necessary for the benefit of the sport, including provisions regarding the cockpit categories. The rules and norms shall be sent to every licensed cockpit, which shall be placed in a prominent place next to the cockpit license. The pit judge shall announce the content of every new rule or norm in each one of the cockfights held, for two (2) consecutive weeks. A copy thereof shall be available in the Cockfighting Affairs Office.
(6) Establish norms to authorize the holding of cockfights regarding the fourteen (14) minutes in which gamecocks over five (5) pounds are participating.
(7) Issue, suspend, condition, and revoke the licenses and certifications provided by this chapter, upon previous notice and hearing.
History —July 31, 2007, No. 98, § 6, eff. 90 days after July 31, 2007.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 18 - Cockfighting Act (2004) › § 301d - Definition of tournaments, classic, and joust

It shall be understood as “tournament” that in which the number of betting pools contributes a specific number of gamecocks, each one with a specific weight. Tournaments sponsored by the Sports and Recreation Department, as well as by cockpits shall be governed by special rules, which at no time shall contravene this chapter, and that shall be established through regulations by the Sports and Recreation Department.
History —July 31, 2007, No. 98, § 7, eff. 90 days after July 31, 2007.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 18 - Cockfighting Act (2004) › § 301e - Cockfights

Cockfights held outside of a cockpit duly authorized under this chapter are hereby prohibited; and any person who holds cockfights outside of these cockpits or who takes part thereof as a fighting cock owner, judge, or spectator in the same in contravention with the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or imprisonment for a maximum term of six (6) months, or both penalties at the discretion of the court. It is further provided that:
(a) The Sports and Recreation Department shall impose a fine to be established by regulations upon the owners of a farm or property who, knowingly, establish an illegal cockpit or place or facility suitable for holding matches in the judgment of the Cockfighting Affairs Office.
(b) The Sports and Recreation Department shall impose a fine through regulations on the employees, agents or representatives of cockpits deemed illegal, employees or persons in charge of a property or farm in which said illegal cockpit is located, or site or building suitable for cockfights, and who knowingly participate, promote, or help in any way in the holding of said illegal activity.
(c) When the fine imposed by the Department is not paid immediately, the case shall be submitted to a prosecutor of the Court of First Instance to initiate the process against the person or persons thus guilty of any violation of the provisions of this chapter, and upon conviction, the court may impose on them a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) and/or imprisonment for up to six (6) months for each violation; Provided, That those sites in which it is detected that a bare-spur match is being held, that is, one without boots, which are cloths or gloves wrapped around the cocks’ spurs to prevent them from injuring each other during workouts and training sessions, shall be deemed to be illegal cockpits.
History —July 31, 2007, No. 98, § 8, eff. 90 days after July 31, 2007.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 18 - Cockfighting Act (2004) › § 301f - Admission ticket price

The maximum price to be charged for admission tickets shall be fixed by the Sports and Recreation Department, according to the category of each cockpit established through regulations.
History —July 31, 2007, No. 98, § 9, eff. 90 days after July 31, 2007.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE FIFTEEN - Sports and Parks (§§ 1 — 2020) › Subtitle 1 - Generally (§§ 1 — 915) › Chapter 18 - Cockfighting Act (2004) › § 301g - Cockpit license

Only a person who holds a cockpit certification in effect from the Sports and Recreation Department to operate a specific cockpit, as provided by this chapter, shall apply for a cockpit license. Every license issued to operate a cockpit shall only be effective for the season for which it is issued. A license shall be renewed for the season commencing immediately after its expiration. Cockpit licenses issued by the Sports and Recreation Department shall be for the use and enjoyment of cockfights and activities related to the sport of cockfighting, thus being established by regulations the requirements to apply and renew the same.
History —July 31, 2007, No. 98, § 10, eff. 90 days after July 31, 2007.