562.03(1)(a)(a) The board shall appoint the administrator after a nationwide search for persons with experience in public gaming management and regulation and with knowledge of animal racing and pari-mutuel wagering.
562.03(1)(b)
(b) Before appointing an administrator, the board shall, with the assistance of the department of justice, conduct a background investigation of the proposed administrator. The board shall require the proposed administrator to be photographed and fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints. The department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person fingerprinted and obtaining any record of his or her criminal arrests and convictions.
562.03(2)
(2) The administrator may employ or provide by contract for the services of stewards, subject to the approval of the board. Any steward under a contract under this subsection shall be under a contract with the board.
562.03(3)(a)(a) The board may employ the staff it considers necessary to administer this chapter.
562.03(3)(b)
(b) Before making an appointment under
par. (a) and
sub. (4), the board shall conduct a background investigation of the proposed employe and shall require that proposed employe to be photographed and fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints. The department of justice may provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person fingerprinted and obtaining any record of his or her criminal arrests and convictions.
562.03(4)
(4) The administrator shall appoint and supervise a chief steward.
562.04
562.04
Racing officials. 562.04(1)(a)(a) Three stewards shall preside over races conducted at a racetrack not at a fair. At least 2 of those stewards shall be employes of the board or providing services to the board under a professional services contract. The rate of compensation of stewards serving under contract to the board shall be commensurate with the rate of compensation established for stewards employed by the board, but less than the rate established for the chief steward. Stewards presiding over a racetrack shall do all of the following:
562.04(1)(a)1.
1. Ensure that races are conducted under the rules of the board.
562.04(1)(a)2.
2. Supervise racing and the racetrack to ensure the integrity of races.
562.04(1)(b)
(b) If one or more stewards have reasonable cause to believe that a person holding a license under
s. 562.05 (1) (d) has violated this chapter or rules of the board or engaged in any other conduct which in the opinion of the stewards adversely affects the integrity of racing, the following procedures apply:
562.04(1)(b)1.
1. The 3 stewards shall meet within 3 working days after any one of them has reasonable cause to believe that the alleged violation or conduct occurred.
562.04(1)(b)2.
2. The stewards shall notify the licensee of the time, date and location of the meeting, the specific conduct constituting the alleged offense and the right of the licensee to be present at the meeting, to address stewards at the meeting and to have counsel or an observer of the licensee's choosing present at the meeting.
562.04(1)(b)4.
4. If at least 2 stewards determine that the violation or conduct has occurred, the stewards may, under the schedule established by the board under
s. 562.02 (1) (f), suspend a license issued under
s. 562.05 (1) (d) for a period not to exceed 90 days or impose a forfeiture not to exceed $2,000 or both; or recommend that the board suspend a license for more than 90 days or impose a forfeiture exceeding $2,000 or both. Fifty percent of the moneys received under this subdivision shall be deposited in the appropriations under
ss. 20.197 (1) (g) and
20.455 (2) (g).
562.04(1)(b)5.
5. After the meeting under
subd. 1., the stewards shall submit, in writing, all findings and conclusions from that meeting to the licensee and the board, including the sanctions, if any, imposed by the stewards and shall provide the licensee who is the subject of the meeting with a notice of his or her right to appeal the decision under
subd. 6. Within 7 days after receiving the decision, the licensee shall pay any forfeitures imposed by the stewards, regardless of whether the decision is appealed or stayed under
subd. 6.
562.04(1)(b)6.
6. Any person adversely affected by a decision issued under
subd. 4. may appeal that decision to the board. The appeal shall be filed with the board within 7 days after receipt of that written decision. An appeal does not automatically stay the decision of the stewards. Any person may request that the administrator stay that decision pending the decision of the board on the appeal. If the administrator receives such a request and determines that the stay will not adversely affect public safety or welfare or the safety or welfare of an animal, the administrator shall order the stay. The procedure for the appeal under this subdivision is under
ch. 227. If part or all of any forfeiture imposed under
subd. 5. is refunded to the licensee under this subdivision, the refund shall include interest calculated at the rate of 9% per year on that amount. The decision of the board on the appeal shall be the final administrative decision on any action of the stewards under
subd. 4.
562.04(2)
(2) Other racing officials. The board shall, by rule, specify all of the following:
562.04(2)(a)
(a) Racing officials, in addition to stewards, required for races conducted at a racetrack not at a fair.
562.04(2)(b)
(b) All racing officials, including stewards, required for races conducted under a license issued under
s. 562.05 (1) (c).
562.04(2)(c)
(c) Qualifications for stewards serving under
sub. (1) and for other racing officials serving under
pars. (a) and
(b).
562.04(2)(d)
(d) A fee for the supervision of racing by stewards or other racing officials employed by or under contract with the board. Any moneys received under this paragraph shall be deposited in the appropriations under
ss. 20.197 (1) (g) and
20.455 (2) (g).
562.045
562.045
Qualifications of administrator, other employes and stewards. Notwithstanding
s. 111.321, no person may serve as an administrator or other employe of the racing division or as a steward employed by the board or under contract with the board if any of the following apply:
562.045(1)
(1) The person has been convicted in a state or federal court of a felony, other than a felony conviction for an offense under
subs. (3) to
(6), for which he or she has not been pardoned under which his or her full civil rights are restored.
562.045(2)
(2) The person has been charged with the violation of a state or federal law which is a felony if that charge has not been dismissed or settled in any other way.
562.045(3)
(3) The person has been convicted of fraud or misrepresentation in connection with racing or animal breeding.
562.045(4)
(4) The person has been convicted of a violation of any law of this or another state or of the United States related to racing, pari-mutuel wagering or any other form of gambling.
562.045(5)
(5) The person has been convicted of a violation of any law of this or another state or of the United States related to the humane treatment of animals.
562.045(6)
(6) The person has knowingly violated a rule or order of the board or any provision of this chapter,
s. 182.020 or
ch. 945.
562.05(1)(1) No person may engage in any of the following activities without a valid annual license issued by the board:
562.05(1)(a)
(a) The ownership and operation of a racetrack at which pari-mutuel wagering is conducted.
562.05(1)(b)
(b) The sponsorship and management of any race on which pari-mutuel wagering is conducted and which is not located at a fair.
562.05(1)(c)
(c) The sponsorship and management of any horse race on which pari-mutuel wagering is conducted and which is located at a fair.
562.05(1b)
(1b) The board shall approve and conduct an examination to be administered to all applicants for a license under
sub. (1) (d) to be a horse trainer. No license may be issued under
sub. (1) (d) to a horse trainer unless the board determines that the applicant for the license is qualified as evidenced by the applicant's performance on the examination conducted under this subsection.
562.05(1g)
(1g) A license issued under
sub. (1) (a) may authorize the ownership and operation of a racetrack where horse racing is conducted, the ownership and operation of a racetrack not at a fair where dog racing is conducted or the ownership and operation of a racetrack not at a fair where both horse racing and dog racing are conducted. A license issued under
sub. (1) (b) may authorize the sponsorship and management of horse races or dog races, or both horse races and dog races, at the same location.
562.05(1m)
(1m) The board may not issue a license under
sub. (1) (a) to
(c) except after a public hearing.
562.05(2)
(2) The board shall establish, by rule, the qualifications for any license required under
sub. (1) and fix the fee for that license and any background investigation under
sub. (7) related to that license. Any moneys received under this subsection shall be deposited in the appropriations under
ss. 20.197 (1) (g) and
20.455 (2) (g).
562.05(2m)
(2m) In issuing a license to own and operate a racetrack not at a fair, the board shall consider the competitive effects on any other licensee under
sub. (1) (a) or
(b). These competitive effects shall include, but not be restricted to, the impact on the economic viability of existing licensed racetracks and the jobs that have been created by such licensed racetracks.
562.05(3)
(3) No person may hold more than one license issued under
sub. (1) (a) and one license issued under
sub. (1) (b) or
(c). If the applicant for any of those licenses is a corporation, association, limited liability company or partnership, the board shall determine whether the applicant is the same person as another licensee for the purpose of applying this subsection. Nothing in this subsection prohibits any person with a license under
sub. (1) from contracting for services with any other person with a license under
sub. (1), subject to any rules promulgated by the board.
562.05(3m)
(3m) The board may not accept an application for a license for a race under
sub. (1) (c) unless the county board of the county in which that race will be conducted has approved the applicant's sponsorship and management of that race.
562.05(3r)
(3r) The application for the first license under
sub. (1) (a) to be issued for any location shall be accompanied by a resolution, supporting the proposed location of the racetrack and its ownership and operation by the applicant, which has been adopted, after a public hearing, by the governing body of the city, village or town where the racetrack is proposed to be located. A common council may not adopt such a resolution if an ordinance prohibiting the location of a racetrack at the proposed location has been adopted under
s. 9.20 before May 3, 1988, or a petition for such an ordinance has been filed, under
s. 9.20, before May 3, 1988. Except as provided in this subsection, no ordinance adopted under
s. 9.20 or
66.01 may prohibit the location of a racetrack in any city or village.
562.05(3w)
(3w) Except as provided under
subs. (3) to
(3r), the board may issue a license under
sub. (1) (a) if the board determines that all of the following conditions are met:
562.05(3w)(a)
(a) At least 51% of the ownership interest in the racetrack is held by residents of this state.
562.05(3w)(b)
(b) The license will not adversely affect the public health, welfare and safety.
562.05(3w)(c)
(c) The racetrack will be operated in accordance with applicable laws.
562.05(3w)(d)
(d) The applicant is qualified and financially able to operate a racetrack.
562.05(3wmr)
(3wmr) If the condition under
sub. (2m) is relevant to its decision, the board may consider secondary economic impacts of an applicant's proposal for a racetrack if the applicant proves by a preponderance of evidence that the alleged secondary impacts will enhance the success of the applicant's proposed racetrack and the location of the proposed racetrack would compliment existing development with the overall effect of increasing tourism and generating state revenues from out-of-state residents.
562.05(3wr)
(3wr) The first license issued to each applicant under
sub. (1) (a) for each racetrack expires after 5 years. Any subsequent license issued to the same applicant for that racetrack expires after one year.
562.05(3wt)
(3wt) In the first license issued to each applicant under
sub. (1) (a) for each racetrack, the board shall specify a date by which each of the types of racing authorized under the license shall begin at that racetrack. Upon request of the licensee, the board may change a specified date to an earlier or later date pursuant to rules of the board.
562.05(4)
(4) Any application for a license to sponsor and manage a race shall be accompanied by a bond, in an amount determined by the board, which shall be sufficient to guarantee the payment of fees, taxes and other money due, including animal owners' purses and payouts on winning wagers.
562.05(4m)
(4m) Except as provided in
sub. (4), the board may issue a license under
sub. (1) (b) if the board determines that all of the following conditions are met:
562.05(4m)(a)
(a) The license will not adversely affect the public health, welfare and safety.
562.05(4m)(b)
(b) The applicant will conduct races in accordance with applicable laws.
562.05(4m)(c)
(c) The license will not create competition that will adversely affect any other licensee under
sub. (1) (a) or
(b).
562.05(5)(a)(a) No license may be issued under
sub. (1) to any person to whom any of the following applies:
562.05(5)(a)1.
1. The person is in default on any payment required under this chapter or under any rule promulgated under this chapter or under any law of any other state related to pari-mutuel wagering or racing.
562.05(5)(a)2.
2. The person has been convicted of a felony within 20 years preceding the date of application in a state or federal court for which he or she has not been pardoned and restored to full civil rights or has been charged with the violation of a state or federal law which is a felony if that charge has not been dismissed or settled in any other way.
562.05(5)(a)3.
3. The person is or has been connected with or engaged in any business which is prohibited under the laws of this or another state or of the United States.
562.05(5)(a)4.
4. The person has been convicted of fraud or misrepresentation in connection with racing or animal breeding.
562.05(5)(a)5.
5. The person has been convicted of a violation of any law of this or another state or of the United States related to racing, pari-mutuel wagering or of any other form of gambling which is a serious violation, as defined by the board by rule.
562.05(5)(a)6.
6. The person has knowingly violated a rule or order of the board or any provision of this chapter or of
ch. 27,
182 or
945.
562.05(5)(a)7.
7. The person has been convicted of a violation of any law of this or another state or of the United States related to the humane treatment of animals, including any rule promulgated under
s. 562.02 (1) (b) or
562.105.
562.05(5)(a)8.
8. The person has accepted public money to construct or operate a racetrack in Wisconsin. This subdivision does not apply to any racetrack operated in conjunction with a county fair.
562.05(5)(b)1.1. Except as provided in
subd. 4., if the applicant is a partnership,
par. (a) applies to the partnership and each partner of the partnership.
562.05(5)(b)1L.
1L. Except as provided in
subd. 4., if the applicant is a limited liability company,
par. (a) applies to the limited liability company and to each of its members.
562.05(5)(b)2.
2. Except as provided in
subd. 4., if the applicant is an association,
par. (a) applies to the association and each officer and director of the association.
562.05(5)(b)3.
3. Except as provided in
subd. 4., if the applicant is a corporation,
par. (a) applies to the corporation, each officer or director of the corporation and each owner, directly or indirectly, of any equity security or other ownership interest in the corporation.
562.05(5)(b)3m.
3m. Except as provided in
subd. 4., if the applicant for a license under
sub. (1) (c) is a corporation,
par. (a) applies to each officer and director of the corporation.
562.05(5)(b)4.
4. A restriction under
par. (a) 2. to
8. does not apply to a partnership, limited liability company, association or corporation if the board determines that the partnership, association, limited liability company or corporation has terminated its relationship with each individual whose actions directly contributed to the application of that restriction to the partnership, association, limited liability company or corporation.
562.05(5)(c)1.1. Every application for a license under
sub. (1) shall be accompanied by an affidavit which states that the applicant and any partner, member, officer, director and owner subject to
par. (a), as specified in
par. (b), and any other person with a present or future direct or indirect financial or management interest in the application, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, meets the qualifications under
par. (a).
562.05(5)(c)2.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, if after the application for a license is made or a license is issued any new officer, director, partner, member or owner subject to
par. (a), as specified in
par. (b), or any other new person with a present or future direct or indirect financial or management interest in the application or license joins the applicant or licensee, the applicant or licensee shall, within 5 working days, notify the board of the change and provide the affidavit under
subd. 1. After an application for a license under
sub. (1) (a) or
(b) is made or after a license under
sub. (1) (a) or
(b) is issued, no ownership interest or right of ownership in the applicant or licensee may be transferred unless the applicant or licensee provides the affidavit under
subd. 1. for the proposed new owner and the proposed new owner is approved by the board. The board shall conduct the background investigations required under
sub. (7) of any new officer, director, partner, member, shareholder or proposed owner of an applicant or licensee named in a notice to the board under this subdivision.
562.05(6)
(6) Every application for a license to own and operate a racetrack or for a license to sponsor and manage a race shall include a statement setting forth the assets and liabilities of the applicant.
562.05(6m)(a)1.1. An application for an intertrack wagering license shall identify each licensee under
sub. (1) (b) on whose races the applicant proposes to conduct intertrack wagering and, except as provided in
subd. 2., shall be accompanied by a statement, signed by each licensee that is identified in the application, giving consent to the applicant to conduct intertrack wagering on all races that are simulcast by the licensee during the licensee's race meeting.
