How To Play THE GAME OF JAI ALAI

Jai-alai is a ball game that originated in Spain’s Basque region and is played in a court with a hard rubber ball that is caught and thrown with a cesta. It is an extremely fast indoor ball game with rules similar to handball or tennis. However, the requirement of returning the ball in "one continuous motion" is unique. The name of the game is derived from the Basque language that means “happy festival”. The game may be played in singles or doubles.

The game is played in a court called the Cancha, which consists of 3 walls (front, back and left) of hard cement or granite. All three walls are in play. The ceiling of the court is extremely high in order to give the ball a more predictable path. The court is divided by 14 parallel lines, line 1 being the one nearest the front wall, and line 14 closest the back wall.

The Players use a wicker basket, called a cesta[1] which measures about 2 feet (60 cm) long. It is strapped on the wrist making it a powerful extension of one’s arm. The ball or pelota[2] is caught in the cesta and immediately hurled against the front wall at high speed.

To begin a game, the server must bounce the ball behind the serving line and with the cesta, hurl the ball directly to the front wall so that upon rebound it hits lines No. 4 and 7. The ball must be caught in the opponent’s cesta on the fly or first bounce and thereafter flung against the front wall in order to complete one playing cycle. The ball must be caught and thrown in "one fluid motion".

The object of Jai-Alai is to score 7 or 9 points which results in a win. Jai-Alai points are scored by the other team dropping, missing, holding, or sending the ball out of bounds. In almost all cases, the game is played in a round-robin format, which means that teams or players rotate after every point. The team or player to score a point stays on the court and the opposing team/player rotates off the court. Most games are played to 7 points, played usually by 8 teams or single players. Players alternate catching the ball in their cesta and throwing it "in one fluid motion" without holding or juggling it.

In doubles, each team consists of a front court player and a back court player. The game begins when the front court player of Team No. 1 serves the ball to Team No. 2. The winner of each point stays on the court to meet the next team in rotation. Losers go the end of the line to await another turn on the court. The first team to score 7 points (or 9 in Superfecta games) wins. The next highest scores are awarded "place" (second) and "show" (third) positions, respectively.


[1] A narrow curved wicker basket used to catch and propel the ball in Jai Alai. The hand is inserted into a leather glove and held in place by a wrap-around called a cinta. (Florida Gaming, Florida Gaming Corporation- Home Page for Miami Jai-Alai, and Ft.Pierce Jai-Alai)

[2] The ball used in Jai Alai which is ¾ the size of a baseball and is harder than a golf ball. It is constructed of hand wound Brazilian rubber with two hand-sown goatskin covers. (Florida Gaming, Florida Gaming Corporation- Home Page for Miami Jai-Alai, and Ft.Pierce Jai-Alai)

all cases, the game is played in a round-robin format, which means that teams or players rotate after every point. The team or player to score a point stays on the court and the opposing team/player rotates off the court. Most games are played to 7 points, played usually by 8 teams or single players. Players alternate catching the ball in their cesta and throwing it "in one fluid motion" without holding or juggling it.

In doubles, each team consists of a front court player and a back court player. The game begins when the front court player of Team No. 1 serves the ball to Team No. 2. The winner of each point stays on the court to meet the next team in rotation. Losers go the end of the line to await another turn on the court. The first team to score 7 points (or 9 in Superfecta games) wins. The next highest scores are awarded "place" (second) and "show" (third) positions, respectively.

JAI ALAI Betting Rules

These rules, which shall govern the conduct of all pari-mutuel betting whether by means of a totalizator or otherwise, have been prepared by the Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation and approved by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority..

These Betting Rules may be amended at any time by the Club and such amendments will become effective upon approval thereof by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority. A notice advising of any amendments to these Betting Rules and/or determinations and/or declarations made pursuant to these Betting Rules will be posted on the Club’s Bulletin Boards at the fronton and at the location of all its offsite gaming stations.

The betting public is deemed to have familiarity with these rules, and all amendments, determinations and/or declarations hereto and to have agreed to be bound thereby.

General

Jai-Alai has rules similar to handball or tennis. However, the requirement of returning the ball in "one continuous motion" is unique.

Each point is started by serving the pelota (ball). The server must bounce the ball behind the serving line, and, with the cesta, hurl the ball directly to the front wall so that upon rebound it will bounce between lines No. 4 and 7. If it does not, it is an under or over serve and the other team will receive the point.

The ball must be caught on the fly or first bounce. The ball, also, must be caught and thrown in "one fluid motion". The judges will rule juggling if the ball "pops up" or if it is held for "more than the required time". All three walls are in play - the space below the red line in each wall is out-of-bounds.

Like handball or squash, Jai-Alai players share the court with the opposition. If a player blocks another's line to the ball on the catch or to the wall on the return, the judges may rule interference if they deem that the ball was "playable".

Most games are played to 7 points. The game is played in a round-robin rotation, usually by 8 teams or single players. In doubles, each team consists of a front court player and a back court player. The game begins when the front court player of Team No. 1 serves the ball to Team No. 2. The winner of each point stays on the court to meet the next team in rotation. Losers go the end of the line to await another turn on the court. The first team to score 7 points (or 9 in Superfecta games) wins. The next highest scores are awarded "place" (second) and "show" (third) positions, respectively.

No player shall be placed in more than one position in the results of any game. In cases of tie/s, placement of players shall follow the sequence that the tied player/s garnered their last points.

When a player is scratched, a substitute player shall be assigned. The substitute player shall not have been listed as a starter in that game prior to the substitution.

The decision of the Judge is final.

Definition of Terms

For purposes of these rules, these terms shall have the following meanings:

a. “CLUB” means the Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation.

b. “JUDGES” means the Board of Judges as appointed by the Club.

c. “BETTING RULES” means the rules contained herein or as may hereafter be amended from time to time.

d. “FRONTON” means the venue of the games.

e. “GAMING STATIONS” are the selling windows where tickets can be purchased.

f. “OFFSITE GAMING STATIONS” are the off-fronton gaming stations.

g. “MANAGER” means the MVGC designated Manager for the Jai Alai games

h. “BETTOR” refers to the person/s who participate in the pari-mutuel event in accordance with these betting rules.

i. “TICKETS” means the forms printed and issued by the Club.

l. “FORECAST” refers to an event wherein the bettor selects two numbers in a designated game, and the selection must finish first and second in the correct order.

m. “TRIFECTA” refers to an event wherein the bettor selects three numbers in a designated game and the selections must finish first, second and third in the correct order.

o. “DOUBLE” refers to an event wherein the bettor selects a number in each of two designated consecutive games, and the selection in each game must finish first.

v. “NET DIVIDEND POOL” refers to that part of the gross sales for the particular betting-type event available for payment of dividends for the same event. The net dividend pool is computed as follows:

Gross Wagering Fund, Per Pool
Less : Bet cancellations
Less : Bet Returns
Equals : Total Wagering Fund (TWF), Per Pool
Multiply by sixty-five percent (65%)
Equals : Net Dividend Pool

w. “DIVIDEND” refers to the amount declared to be paid in respect of each unit bet on the “Winning Combination” as calculated in accordance with these betting rules and as applied to each type of betting.

x. “WINNING TICKET” refers to the MVGC issued ticket which qualifies for a dividend in accordance with these betting rules.

y. “TOTAL SALES” means the total peso value of the valid bets made by bettors for each distinct type of betting for each distinct game.
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