Types of pools, payouts and allocations of amounts wagered
Wis. Stat. § 562.065
in effect(1) Types of pools; purses. The department shall promulgate rules governing types of pari-mutuel pools that are permitted on races and the payment and allocation of purses for races.
(2) Minimum wagers and payouts. The minimum wager which may be accepted by a licensee is $2. The minimum payout that a licensee may make on a wager is $2.20 on a $2 wager. A licensee may accept a $1 minimum wager on the outcome of a race having 3 or more wagering interests if the total amount wagered is at least $2.
(3) Allocations.
(a) Deduction. From the total amount wagered on all animals selected to win, place or show in a race, a licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (b) and (c) shall deduct 17 percent or an amount approved by the department under s. 562.02 (1) (k) up to 20 percent and pay the balance, minus breakage, to winning ticket holders, except that for a multiple pool, the licensee shall deduct 23 percent or an amount approved by the department under s. 562.02 (1) (k) up to 25 percent and pay the balance, minus breakage, to winning ticket holders. Nothing in this paragraph prohibits the licensee from retaining amounts wagered in multiple pools which are required to be paid to winning ticket holders if there are no winning ticket holders, for the sole purpose of paying these amounts to winning ticket holders of subsequent races.
(b) Purses.
1. For horse races, from the total amount deducted under par. (a) on each race day, the licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (b) shall use at least an amount equal to 8 percent of the total amount wagered on each race day for purses for races held on that race day, except as provided in s. 562.057 (4). The licensee shall pay purses directly to the owner of a horse or, if a horse is leased, the licensee shall pay the purse directly to the lessor and lessee of the horse as agreed in a written lease agreement on file with the licensee.
2. For dog races, from the total amount deducted under par. (a) on each race day, the licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (b) shall use at least an amount equal to 4.5 percent of the total amount wagered on each race day for purses, except as provided in s. 562.057 (4). Purses shall be paid on or before Thursday of the calendar week immediately following the race day on which the purses are won. The licensee shall pay purses directly to the owner of a dog or, if a dog is leased, the licensee shall pay the purse directly to the lessor and lessee of the dog as agreed in a written lease agreement on file with the licensee.
3. In addition to the amounts required under subds. 1. and 2., if a licensee deducts under par. (a) more than 17 percent from the total amount wagered on all animals selected to win, place or show in a race or more than 23 percent from the total amount wagered on all animals for a multiple pool in a race, the licensee shall use for purses at least an amount that equals 4.5 percent of any amount that the licensee deducts as a result of increasing the deduction under par. (a) beyond the 17 percent and 23 percent levels.
(c) Pari-mutuel tax.
1. For horse races, from the total amount deducted under par. (a) on each race day, a licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (b) shall deposit with the department the following amounts:
a. One percent of the total amount wagered on that race day if the total amount wagered on all previous race days during the year is more than $50,000,000 but not more than $100,000,000.
b. Two percent of the total amount wagered on that race day if the total amount wagered on all previous race days during the year is more than $100,000,000 but not more than $150,000,000.
c. Three percent of the total amount wagered on that race day if the total amount wagered on all previous race days during the year is more than $150,000,000.
2g. For dog races, from the total amount deducted under par. (a) on each race day that is on or after January 1, 1993, a licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (b) shall deposit with the department the following amounts:
a. Two percent of the total amount wagered on that race day if the total amount wagered on all previous race days during the year is not more than $25,000,000.
b. Two and two-thirds percent of the total amount wagered on that race day if the total amount wagered on all previous race days during the year is more than $25,000,000 but not more than $100,000,000.
c. Four and two-thirds percent of the total amount wagered on that race day if the total amount wagered on all previous race days during the year is more than $100,000,000 but not more than $150,000,000.
d. Six and two-thirds percent of the total amount wagered on that race day if the total amount wagered on all previous race days during the year is more than $150,000,000 but not more than $200,000,000.
e. Seven and two-thirds percent of the total amount wagered on that race day if the total amount wagered on all previous race days during the year is more than $200,000,000 but not more than $250,000,000.
f. Eight and two-thirds percent of the total amount wagered on that race day if the total amount wagered on all previous race days during the year is more than $250,000,000.
4. Annually, not later than February 15, a licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (b) shall file with the department a statement computing the total amount paid to the department under subd. 1. during the immediately preceding year and the total amount wagered at races sponsored and managed by the licensee during that year. If the total amount paid to the department under subd. 1. exceeds the amount due under subd. 1. the department shall refund the difference to the licensee. If the total amount paid is less than the amount due the licensee shall remit the difference to the department.
(cm) Crediting of moneys. All moneys received under par. (c) shall be credited to the appropriation accounts under ss. 20.455 (2) (g) and 20.505 (8) (g).
(d) General program operations.
1. From the total amount deducted under par. (a) on each race day, a licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (b) shall deposit with the department an amount equal to 0.75 percent of the total amount wagered on that race day.
2. The department shall credit the money received under subd. 1. to the appropriation accounts under ss. 20.455 (2) (g) and 20.505 (8) (g).
(e) Breakage. A licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (b) may retain 100 percent of the breakage for each race day.
(3m) Allocations of amounts wagered at fairs.
(a) Deduction. From the total amount wagered, a licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (c) shall deduct 20 percent and pay the balance, minus breakage, to winning ticketholders. Nothing in this paragraph prohibits the licensee from retaining amounts wagered in multiple pools which are required to be paid to winning ticketholders if there are no winning ticketholders, for the sole purpose of paying those amounts to winning ticketholders of subsequent races.
(b) Purses. From the total amount deducted under par. (a) on each race day, the licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (c) shall use at least an amount equal to 8 percent of the total amount wagered on each race day for purses for races held on that race day.
(c) Payment by licensee to the department.
1. From the total amount of the deduction under par. (a) remaining after the payment of purses under par. (b), the licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (c) shall retain an amount equal to the licensee’s costs related to pari-mutuel racing and wagering conducted under the license. The department shall, by rule, determine the costs which may be included under this subdivision and require auditing of these costs.
2. The licensee may retain 50 percent of the amount of the deduction under par. (a) remaining after the payment of purses under par. (b), and the payment of the licensee’s cost under subd. 1. The licensee shall deposit the remaining 50 percent of that amount with the department. The department shall credit moneys received under this subdivision to the appropriation accounts under ss. 20.455 (2) (g) and 20.505 (8) (g).
(d) Breakage. A licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (c) shall retain total breakage for each race day.
(3r) Period for deposit by licensee. The licensee shall make the deposits required under subs. (3) (c) 1. and 2g. and (d) 1. and (3m) (c) 2. no later than 48 hours after the close of the race day or, if the 48-hour period does not include a business day, on the first business day immediately following the close of the race day.
(4) Unclaimed prizes. A licensee under s. 562.05 (1) (b) shall pay to the department 50 percent of any winnings on a race that are not claimed within 90 days after the end of the period authorized for racing in that year under s. 562.05 (9). The department shall credit moneys received under this subsection to the appropriation accounts under ss. 20.455 (2) (g) and 20.505 (8) (g). The licensee may retain the remaining 50 percent of the winnings.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/562.065Fetched: 10/7/2026