1012 - Telephone accounts and telephone wagering.

* §  1012.  Telephone  accounts  and  telephone wagering. Any regional  off-track betting corporation, and any franchised corporation,  harness,  thoroughbred,  quarter  horse racing association or corporation licensed  to conduct pari-mutuel racing may maintain  telephone  betting  accounts  for   wagers  placed  on  races  and  special  events  offered  by  such  corporation or association.    1. Any regional  off-track  betting  corporation  and  any  franchised  corporation,  harness, thoroughbred, quarter horse racing association or  corporation licensed to conduct pari-mutuel racing may require a minimum  account balance in an amount to be determined by such entity.    2.  a.  Any  regional  off-track  betting  corporation   may   suspend  collection   of   the  surcharge  imposed  under  section  five  hundred  thirty-two of  this  chapter  on  winning  wagers  placed  in  telephone  accounts maintained by such regional corporation.    b.  In  a  city  of one million or more any regional off-track betting  corporation, with the approval of the mayor of such  city,  may  suspend  collection   of   the  surcharge  imposed  under  section  five  hundred  thirty-two of  this  chapter  in  winning  wagers  placed  in  telephone  accounts maintained by such regional corporation.    3.  Any  telephone  account maintained by a regional off-track betting  corporation,  franchised  corporation,  harness,  thoroughbred,  quarter  horse  association or corporation, with inactivity for a period of three  years shall be forfeited and paid to the commissioner  of  taxation  and  finance.  Such  amounts when collected shall be paid by the commissioner  of taxation and finance into the general fund of the state treasury.    4. The maintenance and operation of such telephone  accounts  provided  for  in  this  section  shall be subject to rules and regulations of the  state racing and  wagering  board.  The  board  shall  include  in  such  regulation  a  requirement that telephone account information pertaining  to surcharge and nonsurcharge telephone  accounts  shall  be  separately  reported.    4-a.  For  the  purposes of this section, "telephone betting accounts"  and "telephone wagering" shall mean and include all those  wagers  which  utilize  any  wired or wireless communications device, including but not  limited to wireline telephones, wireless telephones, and  the  internet,  to  transmit the placement of wagers on races and special events offered  by  any  regional  off-track  betting  corporation,  and  any   harness,  thoroughbred,  quarter  horse racing association or corporation licensed  or franchised to conduct pari-mutuel racing in New York state.    5. The provisions of this section shall expire and be  of  no  further  force and effect after June thirtieth, two thousand eleven.    * NB Expires June 30, 2011