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Florida Statute 550.2 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
Florida Statute 550.002 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
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The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXIII
REGULATION OF TRADE, COMMERCE, INVESTMENTS, AND SOLICITATIONS
Chapter 550
PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING
View Entire Chapter
F.S. 550.002
550.002 Definitions.As used in this chapter, the term:
(1) “Breaks” means the portion of a pari-mutuel pool which is computed by rounding down to the nearest multiple of 10 cents and is not distributed to the contributors or withheld by the permitholder as takeout.
(2) “Breeders’ and stallions’ awards” means financial incentives paid to encourage the agricultural industry of breeding racehorses in this state.
(3) “Broadcast” means the broadcast, transmission, simulcast, or exhibition in any medium or manner by means that may include, but are not limited to, community antenna systems that receive and retransmit television or radio signals by wire, cable, or otherwise to television or radio sets, and cable origination networks or programmers that transmit programming to community antenna televisions or closed-circuit systems by wire, cable, satellite, or otherwise.
(4) “Commission” means the Florida Gaming Control Commission.
(5) “Contributor” means a person who contributes to a pari-mutuel pool by engaging in any pari-mutuel wager pursuant to this chapter.
(6) “Current meet” or “current race meet” means the conduct of racing or games pursuant to a current year’s operating license issued by the commission.
(7) “Event” means a single contest, race, or game within a performance.
(8) “Exotic pools” means wagering pools, other than the traditional win, place, or show (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place) pools, into which a contributor can place a wager on more than one entry or on more than one race or game in the same bet and which includes, but is not limited to, daily doubles, perfectas, quinielas, quiniela daily doubles, exactas, trifectas, and Big Q pools.
(9) “Fronton” means a building or enclosure that contains a playing court with three walls designed and constructed for playing the sport of jai alai or pelota.
(10) “Full schedule of live racing or games” means, for a jai alai permitholder, the conduct of a combination of at least 100 live evening or matinee performances during the preceding year; for a permitholder who has a converted permit or filed an application on or before June 1, 1990, for a converted permit, the conduct of a combination of at least 100 live evening and matinee wagering performances during either of the 2 preceding years; for a jai alai permitholder who does not operate slot machines in its pari-mutuel facility, who has conducted at least 100 live performances per year for at least 10 years after December 31, 1992, and whose handle on live jai alai games conducted at its pari-mutuel facility has been less than $4 million per state fiscal year for at least 2 consecutive years after June 30, 1992, the conduct of a combination of at least 40 live evening or matinee performances during the preceding year; for a jai alai permitholder who operates slot machines in its pari-mutuel facility, the conduct of a combination of at least 150 performances during the preceding year; for a harness permitholder, the conduct of at least 100 live regular wagering performances during the preceding year; for a quarter horse permitholder at its facility unless an alternative schedule of at least 20 live regular wagering performances is agreed upon by the permitholder and either the Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association or the horsemen’s association representing the majority of the quarter horse owners and trainers at the facility and filed with the commission along with its annual date application, in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the conduct of at least 20 regular wagering performances, in the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 fiscal years, the conduct of at least 30 live regular wagering performances, and for every fiscal year after the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the conduct of at least 40 live regular wagering performances; for a quarter horse permitholder leasing another licensed racetrack, the conduct of 160 events at the leased facility; and for a thoroughbred permitholder, the conduct of at least 40 live regular wagering performances during the preceding year. For a permitholder which is restricted by statute to certain operating periods within the year when other members of its same class of permit are authorized to operate throughout the year, the specified number of live performances which constitute a full schedule of live racing or games shall be adjusted pro rata in accordance with the relationship between its authorized operating period and the full calendar year and the resulting specified number of live performances shall constitute the full schedule of live games for such permitholder and all other permitholders of the same class within 100 air miles of such permitholder. A live performance must consist of no fewer than eight races or games conducted live for each of a minimum of three performances each week at the permitholder’s licensed facility under a single admission charge.
(11) “Guest track” means a track or fronton receiving or accepting an intertrack wager.
(12) “Handle” means the aggregate contributions to pari-mutuel pools.
(13) “Harness racing” means a type of horseracing which is limited to standardbred horses using a pacing or trotting gait in which each horse pulls a two-wheeled cart called a sulky guided by a driver.
(14) “Horserace permitholder” means any thoroughbred entity permitted under the provisions of this chapter to conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of thoroughbred racing; any harness entity permitted under this chapter to conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of harness racing; or any quarter horse entity permitted under this chapter to conduct pari-mutuel wagering meets of quarter horse racing.
(15) “Host track” means a track or fronton conducting a live or simulcast race or game that is the subject of an intertrack wager.
(16) “Intertrack wager” or “intertrack wagering” means a particular form of pari-mutuel wagering in which wagers are accepted at a permitted, in-state track, fronton, or pari-mutuel facility on a race or game transmitted from and performed live at, or simulcast signal rebroadcast from, another in-state pari-mutuel facility.
(17) “Jai alai” or “pelota” means a ball game of Spanish origin played on a court with three walls.
(18) “Market area” means an area within 25 miles of a permitholder’s track or fronton.
(19) “Meet” or “meeting” means the conduct of live racing or jai alai, or wagering on intertrack or simulcast events, for any stake, purse, prize, or premium.
(20) “Net pool pricing” means a method of calculating prices awarded to winning wagers relative to the contribution, net of takeouts, to a pool by each participating jurisdiction or, as applicable, site.
(21) “Operating day” means a continuous period of 24 hours starting with the beginning of the first performance of a race or game, even though the operating day may start during one calendar day and extend past midnight except that no jai alai game may commence after 1:30 a.m.
(22) “Pari-mutuel” or “pari-mutuel wagering” means a system of betting on races or games in which the winners divide the total amount bet, after deducting management expenses and taxes, in proportion to the sums they have wagered individually and with regard to the odds assigned to particular outcomes.
(23) “Pari-mutuel facility” means the grounds or property of a cardroom, racetrack, fronton, or other facility used by a licensed permitholder.
(24) “Pari-mutuel wagering pool” means the total amount wagered on a race or game for a single possible result.
(25) “Performance” means a series of events, races, or games performed consecutively under a single admission charge.
(26) “Permitholder” or “permittee” means a holder of a permit to conduct pari-mutuel wagering in this state as authorized in this chapter.
(27) “Post time” means the time set for the arrival at the starting point of the horses in a race or the beginning of a game in jai alai.
(28) “Purse” means the cash portion of the prize for which a race or game is contested.
(29) “Quarter horse” means a breed of horse developed in the western United States which is capable of high speed for a short distance and used in quarter horse racing registered with the American Quarter Horse Association.
(30) “Regular wagering” means contributions to pari-mutuel pools involving wagering on a single entry in a single race, or a single jai alai player or team in a single game, such as the win pool, the place pool, or the show pool.
(31) “Same class of races, games, or permit” means, with respect to a jai alai permitholder, jai alai games or other jai alai permitholders; with respect to a greyhound permitholder, other greyhound permitholders conducting pari-mutuel wagering; with respect to a thoroughbred permitholder, thoroughbred races or other thoroughbred permitholders; with respect to a harness permitholder, harness races or other harness permitholders; with respect to a quarter horse permitholder, quarter horse races or other quarter horse permitholders.
(32) “Simulcasting” means broadcasting events occurring live at an in-state location to an out-of-state location, or receiving at an in-state location events occurring live at an out-of-state location, by the transmittal, retransmittal, reception, and rebroadcast of television or radio signals by wire, cable, satellite, microwave, or other electrical or electronic means for receiving or rebroadcasting the events.
(33) “Standardbred horse” means a pacing or trotting horse that is used in harness racing and that has been registered as a standardbred by the United States Trotting Association or by a foreign registry whose stud book is recognized by the United States Trotting Association.
(34) “Takeout” means the percentage of the pari-mutuel pools deducted by the permitholder prior to the distribution of the pool.
(35) “Thoroughbred” means a purebred horse whose ancestry can be traced back to one of three foundation sires and whose pedigree is registered in the American Stud Book or in a foreign stud book that is recognized by the Jockey Club and the International Stud Book Committee.
(36) “Totalisator” means the computer system used to accumulate wagers, record sales, calculate payoffs, and display wagering data on a display device that is located at a pari-mutuel facility.
(37) “Ultimate equitable owner” means a natural person who, directly or indirectly, owns or controls 5 percent or more of an ownership interest in a corporation, foreign corporation, or alien business organization, regardless of whether such person owns or controls such ownership through one or more natural persons or one or more proxies, powers of attorney, nominees, corporations, associations, partnerships, trusts, joint stock companies, or other entities or devices, or any combination thereof.
(38) “Year,” for purposes of determining a full schedule of live racing, means the state fiscal year.
History.s. 3, ch. 92-348; s. 206, ch. 94-218; s. 1, ch. 94-328; s. 1, ch. 95-390; s. 1, ch. 96-364; s. 21, ch. 2000-354; s. 1, ch. 2005-288; s. 4, ch. 2009-170; ss. 4, 5, ch. 2010-29; s. 1, ch. 2021-271; s. 6, ch. 2022-7; s. 109, ch. 2023-8.

F.S. 550.002 on Google Scholar

F.S. 550.002 on CourtListener

Amendments to 550.002


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 550.002

Total Results: 36

GULFSTREAM PARK RACING v. Tampa Bay Downs

948 So. 2d 599, 2006 Fla. LEXIS 2207, 2006 WL 2690152

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 21, 2006 | Docket: 1773484

Cited 41 times | Published

from, another in-state pari-mutuel facility. § 550.002(17), Fla. Stat. (2005). If we were to conclude

State Ex Rel. Paoli v. Baldwin

31 So. 2d 627, 159 Fla. 165, 1947 Fla. LEXIS 746

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 6, 1947 | Docket: 3264668

Cited 29 times | Published

mandatory upon such commission." F.S. 1941, Section 550.02 (4) F.S.A. In carrying out the provisions of

Hialeah Race Course v. Gulfstream Park Racing

37 So. 2d 692

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 19, 1948 | Docket: 3267297

Cited 28 times | Published

1935, and its duties and powers are covered by Section 550.02, F.S. 1941, F.S.A. This statute provides for

Fla. Dept. of Bus. Reg. v. Invest. Corp.

747 So. 2d 374, 1999 WL 1018661

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 4, 1999 | Docket: 1475688

Cited 20 times | Published

or withheld by the permitholder as takeout." § 550.002(1), Fla. Stat. (Supp. 1996). "Takeout" is "the

Solimena v. State, Dept. of Business Reg.

402 So. 2d 1240

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 4, 1981 | Docket: 1312974

Cited 18 times | Published

absolute insurer rule. Section 550.02, Florida Statutes (1977) and section 550.02(3), Florida Statutes

West Flagler Assoc., Ltd. v. BOARD OF BUSINESS REG.

241 So. 2d 369

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 2, 1970 | Docket: 1455375

Cited 10 times | Published

Sec. 2, ch. 17276, Acts of 1935 [now Fla. Stat. § 550.02(1)] to fix and set the days or dates of operation

State Ex Rel. Palm Beach Jockey Club, Inc. v. Florida State Racing Commission

28 So. 2d 330, 158 Fla. 335, 1946 Fla. LEXIS 581

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Dec 10, 1946 | Docket: 3272065

Cited 8 times | Published

said County in conformity with Subsection 6 of Section 550.02, Fla. Stats. 1941. The original application

Ocala Breeder Sales v. Div. of Pari-Mutuel

464 So. 2d 1272, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 504

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 27, 1985 | Docket: 1193487

Cited 6 times | Published

applying for a racing permit, as required by section 550.02(6) and 550.33(1), Florida Statutes (1981),

State Ex Rel. West Flagler Kennel Club, Inc. v. Florida State Racing Commission

74 So. 2d 691

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 24, 1954 | Docket: 1443378

Cited 6 times | Published

tracks in question. The statute relied on is Section 550.02(1) F.S. as amended by Section (1) Chapter 24348

Witmer v. DEPT. OF BUS. & PROF. REG.

662 So. 2d 1299

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 25, 1995 | Docket: 1683521

Cited 5 times | Published

fixing of races. Specifically repealed was section 550.02(3), which granted to the Division general rule-making

Gulfstream Park Racing Assoc. Inc. v. Div. of Pari-Mut. Wagering

407 So. 2d 263

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 8, 1981 | Docket: 467306

Cited 5 times | Published

must set forth the information required by Section 550.02(4), Florida Statutes (1979). After the permit

Simmons v. DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL, ETC.

407 So. 2d 269

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 8, 1981 | Docket: 1515349

Cited 5 times | Published

said in upholding the constitutionality of Section 550.02(3), Florida Statutes (1977), in the face of

GULFSTREAM PK. RAC. ASSOCIATION, INC. v. Board of Bus. Reg.

318 So. 2d 458

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 29, 1975 | Docket: 1739312

Cited 5 times | Published

factors were perhaps more useful when, before 1947, § 550.02(1), F.S. 1941, required the Racing Commission

O'NEIL v. Pallot

257 So. 2d 59

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 11, 1972 | Docket: 1287290

Cited 5 times | Published

26, Florida Statutes, F.S.A. As provided by Section 550.02(4), Florida Statutes, F.S.A., as implemented

McFarlin v. STATE, DEPT. OF BUS. REG., ETC.

405 So. 2d 255

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 27, 1981 | Docket: 1703983

Cited 4 times | Published

authority for adopting the rule appears to be Section 550.02, Florida Statutes (1979). However, a simple

Meyer v. STATE, DEPT. OF BUS. REGULATION, ETC.

402 So. 2d 527

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 18, 1981 | Docket: 1313081

Cited 4 times | Published

the claim not raised before the agency that Section 550.02(3), Florida Statutes (1977), is (a) unconstitutionally

State Ex Rel. Kinsella v. Florida State Racing Commission

20 So. 2d 258, 155 Fla. 387, 1944 Fla. LEXIS 550

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Dec 22, 1944 | Docket: 3266083

Cited 4 times | Published

(5) of Section 550.02, Fla. Stats. 1941 (FSA). Likewise Subsections (6) and (7) of Section 550.02, supra

Gulfstream Park Racing Ass'n, Inc. v. Tampa Bay Downs, Inc.

294 F. Supp. 2d 1291, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20225, 2003 WL 22888995

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Nov 7, 2003 | Docket: 2436682

Cited 3 times | Published

to as intertrack wagering ("ITW"), Fla. Stat. § 550.002(17); (2) out-of-state thoroughbred horse races

Inv. Corp. v. Div. of Pari-Mut. Wagering

714 So. 2d 589

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 8, 1998 | Docket: 461539

Cited 3 times | Published

bettors down to the nearest multiple of ten cents. § 550.002(1), Fla. Stat. (Supp.1996). [2] The appellants

St. Petersburg Kennel Club v. Baldwin

38 So. 2d 436, 1949 Fla. LEXIS 1225

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 14, 1949 | Docket: 3260025

Cited 2 times | Published

State Racing Commission is subsections 1 and 4, Section 550.02, Florida Statutes of 1941, as amended by Chapter

Div. of Pari-Mutuel Wagering v. Winfield

443 So. 2d 455

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 11, 1984 | Docket: 1458527

Cited 1 times | Published

foregoing to our Horseracing Statute, we note in Section 550.02, Florida Statutes (1981), that the Division

Florida Gaming Control Commission v. Tampa Bay Downs

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 11, 2024 | Docket: 69151096

Published

miles of a permitholder’s track or fronton.” § 550.002(18), Fla. Stat. Substituted with its definition

CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT, INC. and HERBERT SIMPSON v. THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA, BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, and DANIA ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, LLC

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 15, 2023 | Docket: 66814489

Published

other facility used by a licensed permitholder.” § 550.002(22), Fla. Stat. (2011). Fronton is defined as

Hamilton Downs Horsetrack, LLC v. State, Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

226 So. 3d 1046, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 12714, 2017 WL 3864050

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 5, 2017 | Docket: 6147631

Published

consecutively under a single admission charge.” § 550.002(25), Fla. Stat. (emphasis added). “Race” is defined

South Florida Racing Ass'n v. State, Department of Business & Professional Regulation

201 So. 3d 57, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 11334

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 29, 2015 | Docket: 2679127

Published

to the odds assigned to particular outcomes.” § 550.002, Fla. Stat. (2013). The Division is the state

South Florida Racing Association, LLC, Etc. v. Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Etc.

143 So. 3d 1149, 2014 WL 3844040, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 12045

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 6, 2014 | Docket: 761288

Published

a race or game for a single possible result.” § 550.002(13), (24), Fla. Stat. 4 . If more

Investment Corp. of Palm Beach v. Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

764 So. 2d 845, 2000 Fla. App. LEXIS 10145, 2000 WL 1114309

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 9, 2000 | Docket: 64799485

Published

race broadcast from an out-of-state location. § 550.002(32). Fla. Stat. (1999). An "intertrack wager,”

Calder Race Course, Inc. v. Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

664 So. 2d 297, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 12494, 1995 WL 699901

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 29, 1995 | Docket: 64760620

Published

out-of-state events at an in-state location, § 550.002(31), Fla.Stat. (1993). Section 550.3551(6), Florida

Witmer v. Department of Business & Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

662 So. 2d 1299, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 11345, 1995 WL 621356

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 25, 1995 | Docket: 64760192

Published

fixing of races. Specifically repealed was section 550.02(3), which granted to the Division general rule-making

State ex rel. Calder Race Course, Inc. v. Department of Professional Business Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

429 So. 2d 103, 1983 Fla. App. LEXIS 19177

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 14, 1983 | Docket: 64596021

Published

permit is mandatory and not discretionary. Section 550.02(6), Fla.Stat. (1981). See Florida State Racing

State, Department of Legal Affairs v. Sanford-Orlando Kennel Club, Inc.

411 So. 2d 1012, 1982 Fla. App. LEXIS 19700

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 31, 1982 | Docket: 64588894

Published

applicable to all others seeking racing permits. Section 550.02, Florida Statutes, requires such applicants

Gulfstream Park Racing Ass'n v. Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, Department of Business Regulation

404 So. 2d 1119, 1981 Fla. App. LEXIS 21372

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 14, 1981 | Docket: 64585570

Published

competing tracks “in a fair and impartial manner.” § 550.02, Fla.Stat. (1941). Subsequently, the best dates

Vasquez v. Department of Business Regulations

378 So. 2d 1319, 1980 Fla. App. LEXIS 15612

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 15, 1980 | Docket: 64573816

Published

to prescribe the proper penalty pursuant to Section 550.02(3), Florida Statutes (1977), and Fla.Admin

Biscayne Kennel Club, Inc. v. Board of Business Regulation

239 So. 2d 53, 1970 Fla. App. LEXIS 5713

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 31, 1970 | Docket: 64516396

Published

action of the Division, the provisions of F.S. § 550.02(1), F.S.A. which reads as follows: “(1) Fix and

State ex rel. Tourist Attractions, Inc. v. Lechner

191 So. 2d 555, 1966 Fla. LEXIS 3033

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 2, 1966 | Docket: 64498559

Published

permits. “(8) The distance provisions contained in § 550.02 and 550.05 shall not be applicable to any harness

Simmons v. Hanton

65 So. 2d 42, 1953 Fla. LEXIS 1273

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 8, 1953 | Docket: 64484341

Published

and around the horse race tracks in Florida. Section 550.02(4), Florida Statutes 1951, F.S.A., provides