§ 906 — Handicapping tournaments

§ 906. Handicapping tournaments. 1. Notwithstanding any other\nprovision of law, a thoroughbred racing corporation, a harness racing\ncorporation or association, a regional off-track betting corporation or\na combination thereof, may operate a handicapping tournament at which\nthe participants may be charged an entry fee if the tournament is\nconducted in accordance with the provisions of this section.\n 2. (a) The operator of a handicapping tournament shall distribute all\nof the entry fees as prizes to the winners of the tournament. Nothing\nherein shall preclude an operator from providing additional prizes or\npromotions.\n (b) The commission shall approve the rules and the payment of prizes\nof a handicapping tournament. No operator of a handicapping tournament\nmay accept an entry fee for a tournament until the commission has\napproved the rules and the payment of prizes of a handicapping\ntournament.\n (c) The horse races which are the subject of the tournament must be\nraces on which the operator of the tournament is authorized to conduct\nwagering. At least fifty percent of the races which are the subject of\nthe tournament must be races run in New York state.\n 3. A handicapping tournament operated in accordance with the\nprovisions of this section shall be considered a contest of skill and\nshall not be considered gambling.\n