98-003677 Division Of Pari-Mutuel Wagering vs. Bobbie J. Manning Status: Closed Recommended Order on Wednesday, January 27, 1999.

Summary: Exchange of betting tickets without receipt of cash violates rule; merits revocation of cardroom license.

STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND )

PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, DIVISION )

OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

vs. ) Case No. 98-3677

)

BOBBIE J. MANNING, )

)

Respondent. )

___________________________________)

RECOMMENDED ORDER

On December 15, 1998, a formal administrative hearing in

this case was held in Tampa, Florida, before William F.

Quattlebaum, Administrative Law Judge, Division of Administrative

Hearings. The hearing was conducted by videoconference from

Tallahassee, Florida.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner: Susan C. Felker-Little, Esquire

Department of Business

and Professional Regulation

1940 North Monroe Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1007

For Respondent: No appearance

STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE

The issue in the case is whether the allegations of the

Administrative Complaint are true, and if so, what penalty should

be imposed.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

By Administrative Complaint dated July 1, 1998, the

Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of

Pari-mutuel Wagering (Petitioner) alleges that Bobbie J. Manning

(Respondent) allowed a patron at Tampa Jai-Alai to obtain betting

tickets without paying for them, a violation of the Petitioner’s

Administrative Rules. The Respondent disputed the allegations

and requested a formal administrative hearing. The Petitioner

forwarded the matter to the Division of Administrative Hearings,

which scheduled and conducted the hearing.

At the hearing, the Petitioner presented the testimony of

two witnesses and had one exhibit admitted into evidence. The

Respondent presented no witnesses and did not appear at the

hearing.

No hearing transcript was filed. The Petitioner filed a

Proposed Recommended Order.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. The Petitioner is the agency charged with regulating the

pari-mutuel wagering industry in Florida, including persons

licensed under Chapter 550, Florida Statutes.

2. At all times material to this case, the Respondent was

licensed as a cardroom employee occupational license number

1395921-1181, issued by the Petitioner.

3. On May 20, 1998, the Respondent was working as a teller

in the cardroom at Tampa Jai-Alai.

4. The evidence establishes that on May 20, 1998, the

Respondent provided wagering tickets to a patron of the facility

without obtaining cash or a cash voucher in exchange for the

tickets.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

5. The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction

over the parties to and the subject matter of this proceeding.

Section 120.57(1), Florida Statutes.

6. The Petitioner has the burden of proving by clear and

convincing evidence the allegations against the Respondent.

Ferris v. Turlington , 510 So. 2d 292 (Fla. 1987). In this case,

the burden has been met.

7. Rule 61D-7.020(5)(b), Florida Administrative Code,

requires that all pari-mutuel wagering ticket sales be for cash

or cash equivalent. A cash equivalent includes a cash voucher.

8. The evidence in this case establishes that on May 20,

1998, the Respondent provided wagering tickets without obtaining

cash or a cash equivalent, such as a voucher, in exchange for the

tickets.

9. Rule 61D-7.020(6), Florida Administrative Code, provides

that the "duty of the licensed pari-mutuel tellers shall not be

compromised . . . ." The provision of wagering tickets to a

patron without the receipt of payment compromises the duties of

the teller.

10. Rule 61D-7.020(6), Florida Administrative Code, also

provides that the teller ". . . shall not at any time serve as an

agent or an employee of a patron with respect to pari-mutuel

wagering . . . ." The Petitioner asserts that the Respondent has

likewise violated this section of the rule; however, the evidence

is insufficient to establish the reason for the Respondent’s

actions and fails to indicate that she was employed by or an

agent of the patron to whom she provided the tickets.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of

Law, it is recommended that the Department of Business and

Professional Regulation enter a Final Order revoking the cardroom

employee license number 1395921-1181 of Bobbie J. Manning.

DONE AND ENTERED this 27th day of January, 1999, in

Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.

___________________________________

WILLIAM F. QUATTLEBAUM

Administrative Law Judge

Division of Administrative Hearings

The DeSoto Building

1230 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060

[phone] SUNCOM 278-9675

Fax Filing [phone]

www.doah.state.fl.us

Filed with the Clerk of the

Division of Administrative Hearings

this 27th day of January, 1999.

COPIES FURNISHED:

Susan C. Felker-Little, Esquire

Department of Business and

Professional Regulation

1940 North Monroe Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0750

Bobbie J. Manning

3007 Spillers Avenue

Tampa, Florida 33619

Deborah R. Miller, Director

Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering

Department of Business and

Professional Regulation

1940 North Monroe Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792

Lynda L. Goodgame, General Counsel

Department of Business and

Professional Regulation

1940 North Monroe Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0792

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS

All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within 15

days from the date of this Recommended Order. Any exceptions to

this Recommended Order must be filed with the agency that will

issue the Final Order in this case.