Findings, declarations relative to horse racing and off-track wagering

2. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. The horse racing industry is economically important to this State, and the general welfare of the people of the State will be promoted by the advancement of horse racing and related projects and facilities in the State. b. It is the intent of the Legislature, by authorizing off-track wagering and account wagering in this State, to promote the economic future of the horse racing industry in this State, to foster the potential for increased commerce, employment and recreational opportunities in this State, to preserve the State's open spaces, to preserve and enhance the overall economic well-being of the horse racing and horse breeding industries, and to generate greater interest in the horse racing industry and the sport of horse racing in New Jersey. c. It is the further intent of the Legislature that facilities offering off-track wagering opportunities to the public also offer other amenities such as quality dining and handicapping facilities and that, in doing so, these facilities strive to be of the highest quality in the country. d. The Legislature has determined that the New Jersey Racing Commission is best suited to oversee, license and regulate off-track wagering and account wagering in the State, and that the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, by virtue of its experience in the operation of parimutuel wagering facilities and other entertainment-related projects in this State, is particularly well-suited to ensure the fiscal soundness and technical reliability of an account wagering system, and to be licensed, along with other well-suited entities, as off-track wagering licensees pursuant to the terms of this act. e. In establishing off-track wagering facilities, the authority and other licensees will not be performing an essential government function but rather an essentially private business function. Numerous municipalities, residents and businesses will be impacted by the establishment of off-track wagering facilities throughout the State. A municipality having an off-track wagering facility sited within its boundaries is therefore entitled to receive an appropriate level of property tax for municipal services. Fundamental fairness dictates that an off-track wagering facility, even if owned and not leased by the authority, be subject to local property tax requirements. f. By regulation of the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, there exist special licenses that permit the sale of alcoholic beverages on public property. These special licenses are typically available to the authority. Because the establishment of off-track wagering facilities is, in reality, essentially a private business function and not an essential government function a private holder of a Class C plenary retail consumption license is given priority to provide alcoholic beverages at an off-track wagering facility. However, many municipalities in New Jersey do not have a sufficient number of liquor licenses or licensees who are available. Therefore, in order to ensure the establishment of an off-track wagering facility when a license or a private holder of a plenary retail consumption license is not available, it is necessary in this act to allow for the issuance of a special concessionaire permit to the authority, and a special license to other off-track wagering licensees, under certain limited circumstances.