OAR 462-200-0650: Choose (n) Rules

(1) The Choose (n) is a form of pari-mutuel wagering. Each bettor attempts to select the winner of (n) races but chooses the races at his own discretion from a group of races established by the licensee instead of having the races designated for him by the licensee. The races need not be consecutive and the ticket’s first race may begin at any time provided that there are an equal number of races left within the designated group to meet the necessary number of races for the wager. The licensee must obtain written approval from the Commission concerning the scheduling of Choose (n) contests and the amount of any cap to be set on the carryover. Any changes to the approved Choose (n) format require prior approval from the Commission. (2) The Choose (n) pool shall be held separately from all other pools and is in no way part of a daily double, exacta, trifecta or any other wagering pool. The Choose (n) is a pool wherein the bettor is required to select any (n) winning horses from that particular group of races and is not a parlay. (3) Choose (n) tickets shall be sold in denominations as determined by the licensee. No less than or no more than the (n) races will comprise a Choose (n) ticket. (4) Races in which Choose (n) wagering is permitted shall be approved by the Commission. Some races may be closed to Choose (n) wagering at the discretion of the licensee. The Choose (n) pool shall close after each race but shall reopen with respect to subsequent races that have not yet been run provided that there are at least as many races remaining as required to be selected on a winning Choose (n) ticket. (5) The design of the Choose (n) tickets shall be clearly and immediately distinguishable from other pari-mutuel tickets. (6) Those horses constituting an entry or field, as defined within the rules and regulations of the Commission, shall race in any Choose (n) race as a single wagering interest for purposes of the Choose (n) pool calculations. A scratch after wagering has begun of any part of the entry or field selection in a race shall be of no effect with respect to the status of such entry and/or field as a viable wagering interest. (7) At any time after wagering begins on the Choose (n), should a horse, entire betting entry or field be scratched or declared a non-starter in any Choose (n) race, no further tickets selecting such horses, entry or field shall be issued, and wagers upon such horse, entry or field for purposes of the Choose (n) shall be deemed wagers upon the horse, entry or field on which the most money has been wagered in the win pool at the close of win betting for such race. In the event of a tie, the horse, entry or field with the lowest program number shall be designated. (8) In the event of a dead heat for win between two or more horses in any of the Choose (n) races, all such horses shall be considered as the winning horse for the purpose of distributing the Choose (n) pool. (9) The Choose (n) pool shall be calculated as follows: (a) 100% of the net amount in the Choose (n) pool subject to distribution among winning ticket holders shall be distributed among holders of Choose (n) tickets which have correctly selected the winner of the (n) races comprising the Choose (n). (b) In the event there is no Choose (n) ticket which correctly designates the winner of the (n) winners that make up the Choose (n), 25% of that racing date’s net amount available for distribution shall be distributed among the holders of Choose (n) tickets correctly designating the most winning selections of the races that comprise the Choose (n), and the remaining 75% of said pool shall be carried over and added to the pool on the next day that the wager is conducted. (c) If, on the last day on which the Choose (n) is conducted at a horse race meeting, no one selects the winning horse in (n) races, the total amount of the Choose (n) pool which exists on that day shall be paid to the bettor or bettors selecting the largest number of winning horses in those races. In no event shall any part of the pool be carried over to the next year’s race meeting. (10) When the condition of the turf course warrants a change of racing surface in any of the races open to Choose (n) wagering, and such change has not been made known to the betting public prior to the close of wagering for the first Choose (n) race, the Stewards shall declare the changed races a “no contest” for Choose (n) wagering purposes and the pool shall be distributed in accordance with subsection (11). Following the designation of a race as a “no contest”, no tickets shall be sold selecting a horse in such “no contest” race. (11) If, for any reason, one or more races are cancelled or declared a “no contest”, the Choose (n) pool shall be paid using the following formula, or an alternative formula developed by the licensee and made available to the public (the following formula assumes a Choose 6 pool): (a) Any race that has been cancelled or declared a “no contest” shall not be considered a contested race for Choose 6 purposes. (b) Any ticket, regardless of its starting point, that has not completed at least four contested legs will be refunded. (c) In the event that only 4 Choose 6 races have been contested: 100% of that day’s net pool (not including any carryover), after refunds (the “Daily Pool”), shall be paid to tickets with 4 wins. (d) In the event that only 5 Choose 6 races have been contested: 75% of the Daily Pool shall be paid to tickets with 5 wins and 25% of the Daily Pool shall be paid to tickets with 4 wins, no losses, and selections in two non-contested races. (e) In the event that at least 6 races have been contested for the Choose 6 and two or more races have not been contested: 75% of the Daily Pool plus any carryover shall be paid to tickets with 6 wins, 18.75% of the Daily Pool to tickets with 5 wins and a selection in a non-contested race, and 6.25% of the Daily Pool to tickets with 4 wins and selections in two non-contested races. If no ticket has 6 wins, 50% of the Daily Pool shall be paid to tickets with 5 wins and a selection in a non-contested race, 25% of the Daily Pool to tickets with 4 wins and selections in two non-contested races, and 25% of the Daily Pool to tickets with 5 wins and 1 loss. (f) In the event that at least 6 races have been contested for the Choose 6 and one race has not been contested: 75% of the Daily Pool plus any carryover shall be paid to tickets with 6 wins and 25% of the Daily Pool to tickets with 5 wins and a selection in the non-contested race. If no ticket has 6 wins, 75% of the Daily Pool shall be paid to tickets with 5 wins and a selection in the non-contested race and 25% of the Daily Pool to tickets with 5 wins and 1 loss. (g) In the event that there is no payable ticket in a category within any of these subsections, that portion of the Daily Pool will be divided equally between the other categories within that subsection. In the event that there is no payable ticket within a subsection, the entire Daily Pool shall be carried over and added to the pool on the next day that wagering is conducted. (12) The Choose (n) carryover may be capped at a designated level approved by the Commission so that if, at the close of any day of designated races, the amount in the Choose (n) carryover equals or exceeds the designated cap, the Choose (n) carryover will be frozen until it is won or distributed under other provisions of this rule. After the Choose (n) carryover is frozen, 100 percent of the net pool, part of which ordinarily would be added to the Choose (n) carryover, shall be distributed to those whose selection finished first in the greatest number of Choose (n) contests for that day of designated races. (13) A written request for permission to distribute the Choose (n) carryover on a specific day of designated races may be submitted to the Commission. The request must contain justification for the distribution, an explanation of the benefit to be derived, and the intended date and day of designated races for the distribution. (14) Should the Choose (n) carryover be designated for distribution on a specified date and day of designated races in which there are no wagers with (n) wins, the entire pool shall be distributed as a single price pool to those whose selection finished first in the greatest number of Choose (n) contests. The Choose (n) carryover shall be designated for distribution on a specified date and day of designated races only under the following circumstances: (a) Upon written approval from the Commission as provided in subsection (n) of this rule. (b) Upon written approval from the Commission when there is a change in the carryover cap, a change from one type of Choose (n) wagering to another, or when the Choose (n) is discontinued. (c) On the closing day of the designated races. (15) If, for any reason, the Choose (n) carryover must be held over to the corresponding Choose (n) pool of a future group of designated races, the carryover shall be deposited in an interest-bearing account approved by the Commission. The Choose (n) carryover plus accrued interest shall then be added to the net Choose (n) pool of the day’s group of designated races so designated by the Commission. (16) With the written approval of the Commission, the association may contribute to the Choose (n) carryover a sum of money up to the amount of any designated cap. (17) Providing information to any an individual regarding covered combinations, amounts wagered on specific combinations, number of tickets sold, or number of live tickets remaining is strictly prohibited. This shall not prohibit necessary communication between totalisator and pari-mutuel department employees for processing of pool data. The licensee shall be permitted to provide information regarding number of tickets sold and number of live tickets remaining to the wagering public. (18) The licensee may suspend previously approved Choose (n) wagering with the prior approval of the Commission. Any carryover shall be held until the suspended Choose (n) wagering is reinstated. A licensee may request approval of a Choose (n) wager or separate wagering pool for specific performances. (19) Should circumstances occur which are not addressed by these rules, questions arising thereby shall be resolved in accordance with general pari-mutuel practice. Decisions regarding distribution of the Choose (n) pool made by the Executive Director or his/her designee shall be final.