23-4-301. Parimutuel betting — other betting illegal — penalty. (1) It is unlawful to make, report, record, or register a bet or wager on the result of a contest of speed, skill, or endurance of an animal, whether the contest is held within or outside this state, except under 23-5-502 or this chapter.

Ask a business law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified business lawyers.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(2)A licensee conducting a race meet under this chapter may provide a place in the race meet grounds or enclosure where the licensee may conduct or supervise the use of the parimutuel system by patrons on the result of the races conducted under this chapter and the rules of the board.

(3)A person licensed under this chapter to hold a race meet may simulcast live races at a place in the race meet grounds or simulcast facility where the licensee may conduct or supervise the use of the parimutuel system by patrons on the results of simulcast races approved by the board.

(4)It is unlawful to conduct pool selling or bookmaking or to circulate handbooks or to bet or wager on a race of a licensed race meet, other than by the parimutuel system and in the race meet grounds or enclosure where the race is held, or to permit a minor to use the parimutuel system.

(5)Each licensee conducting a parimutuel system for an intrastate simulcast race meet shall combine the parimutuel pools at a simulcast facility with those at the actual racing facility for the purpose of determining the odds and computing payoffs. The amount of the handle at the simulcast race meet must be combined with the amount of the parimutuel handle at the live racing facility for the purposes of distribution of money derived from parimutuel betting under 23-4-302 and 23-4-304.

(6)Negotiated purse money from intrastate and interstate simulcast parimutuel handles at racing associations that do not conduct live racing will be pooled and distributed to all tracks conducting live racing. All money must be distributed on a percentage, based on each track’s percent, of the total annual on-track parimutuel handle.

(7)The board may license an advance deposit wagering hub operator to conduct advance deposit wagering. Advance deposit wagering is prohibited and illegal unless it is conducted through an advance deposit wagering hub operator licensed by the board. A licensed advance deposit wagering hub operator:

(a)may accept advance deposit wagering money for races conducted by a licensed race meet;

(b)may not accept a wager in an amount in excess of the money on deposit in the account of a person who wishes to make the wager;

(c)may not allow a person under 18 years of age to open an account with the advance deposit wagering hub operator, make a wager from an account, or otherwise have access to an account;

(d)shall include a statement in any of its advertising for advance deposit wagering that a person under 18 years of age is not allowed to participate;

(e)shall verify the identification, residence, and age of each person seeking to open an advance deposit wagering account;

(f)shall agree to pay to the board a source market fee in an amount equal to a percentage, as set forth in its license agreement, of the total amount wagered by Montana residents from their accounts with the advance deposit wagering hub operator; and

(g)shall agree to a payment schedule of source market fees as set forth in its license agreement.

(8)(a) It is unlawful for a person or organization to accept a Montana wager without being licensed by the state of Montana as provided in this chapter.

(b)A violation of subsection (8)(a) is an illegal gambling enterprise, as defined in 23-5-112, and is punishable as provided by law.

(9)It is unlawful to:

(a)conduct pool selling or bookmaking or to wager on a fantasy sports league other than by the parimutuel system and by being physically present at the licensed parimutuel facility;

(b)permit a minor to use the parimutuel system; or

(c)conduct internet or telephone wagering on fantasy sports leagues.