Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency

The Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA) is a Special Operating Agency within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada that regulates and supervises pari-mutuel betting on horse racing at racetracks across Canada, thereby ensuring that pari-mutuel betting is conducted in a way that is fair to the public.

The Agency is funded through the collection of a levy of 0.8% on each bet placed in Canada.

What is Pari-Mutuel Betting?

Pari-mutuel betting is simply an exchange of monies between the bettors, less a percentage of the total monies bet for the racetracks and the Federal/Provincial governments.

In Canada, the greatest part of every dollar bet is returned to the winning bettors.

Financial reports

Our Programs

Pari-Mutuel Surveillance

CPMA Officers are responsible for the supervision of pari-mutuel betting. They:

• Test/monitor all computerized betting tote systems;
• Audit the distribution of pay-out prices;
• Conduct investigations into questionable activities in pari-mutuel betting; and
• Enforce all betting regulations/policies and ensure compliance.

Video Race Surveillance

Instant playback videotape is used to assist the judges and stewards to detect irregularities and rule violations during a race.

Photo Finish Surveillance

Accurately determines the exact order of the finish of a live race.

Equine Drug Control Program

There are many drugs and medications that, if administered to a horse, could affect the outcome of a race. The CPMA provides an Equine Drug Control Program that is designed to deter the uncontrolled use of drugs or medication in race horses participating in pari-mutuel races.

Urine or blood samples are collected from horses before or after a race and are analyzed at a laboratory contracted by the CPMA.

When a prohibited substance in a sample is detected the results are reported to the appropriate provincial regulatory body for enforcement action.

Research

Drug Control

The CPMA carries out an Equine Drug Control Program to develop and improve analytical methods for the detection of drugs and to provide information on elimination times for veterinary drugs.