Opinion ID: 4557272
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Interstate Horse Racing Act

Text: In the IHA, Congress stressed that “the States should have the primary responsibility for determining what forms of gambling may legally take place within their borders.” 15 U.S.C. § 3001(a)(1). However, “in the limited area of interstate off-track wagering on horseraces,” Congress found “a need for Federal action to ensure States will continue to cooperate with one another in the acceptance of legal 2 Other states have similar laws. See Mich. Comp. Laws § 431.318; Idaho Code § 54-2512(12)(a)–(c); Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3769.089(B)(1)(a), (D); Fla. Stat. § 550.6305(9)(g)(1). MONARCH CONTENT MGMT. V. ARIZ. DEP’T OF GAMING 7 interstate wagers.” Id. § 3001(a)(3); see id. § 3001(b) (stating legislative policy “to regulate interstate commerce with respect to wagering on horseracing, in order to further the horseracing and legal off-track betting industries”). To that end, the IHA provides that an “interstate off-track wager may be accepted by an off-track betting system only if consent is obtained from” four parties: the host racing association, the relevant horsemen’s group in the host state, the host racing commission, and the racing commission in the state where the off-track wager is placed. 3 Id. § 3004(a)(1)–(3). Interstate off-track wagering is otherwise prohibited by federal law. Id. § 3003.