Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H480 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 576 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 480
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Michelle L. Badger and Kathleen R. LaNatra
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to supporting veterans organizations.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michelle L. Badger1st Plymouth1/10/2025 1 of 5
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 576 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 480
18	18	By Representatives Badger of Plymouth and LaNatra of Kingston, a petition (accompanied by
19	19	bill, House, No. 480) of Michelle L. Badger relative to authorizing video gaming activities and
20	20	certain veterans organizations. Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.
21	21	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
22	22	SEE HOUSE, NO. 417 OF 2023-2024.]
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
26	26	(2025-2026)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act relative to supporting veterans organizations.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 3A. Chapter 23K of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
32	32	2section 20 the following section:-
33	33	3 Section 20A. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
34	34	4clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
35	35	5 “Limited video gaming machine/VGT establishment”, the premises owned or leased by a
36	36	6veterans’ organization for use by its patrons.
37	37	7 “Limited video gaming machine license”, a gaming license issued by the commission that
38	38	8permits a veterans’ organization to operate a gaming establishment with no table games and not 2 of 5
39	39	9more than 5 video gaming terminal(VGT) machines at a limited video gaming machine
40	40	10establishment.
41	41	11 “Limited video gaming machine licensee”, a veterans’ organization that holds a limited
42	42	12VGT machine license for its limited video gaming machine establishment. All bets are limited to
43	43	13$2.00 and the maximum win is $599 for a limited video gaming machine license.
44	44	14 “Local licensing authority”, the local licensing authority in the city or town in which the
45	45	15limited video gaming machine establishment is located.
46	46	16 “Veterans’ organization”, any federally chartered veterans’ organization that is: (i)
47	47	17incorporated by the Congress of the United States and (ii) included in section 4E of chapter 9.
48	48	18 (b) The commission may issue a limited VGT machine license to veterans’ organizations
49	49	19in the commonwealth.
50	50	20 A limited video gaming machine license shall only be issued to a veterans’ organization
51	51	21that has paid all taxes and is in good standing with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
52	52	22 No limited video gaming machine license issued to a veterans’ organization pursuant to
53	53	23this section shall be transferred or assigned.
54	54	24 (c) A limited video gaming machine license issued by the commission pursuant to this
55	55	25section may be suspended or revoked at the discretion of the commission or upon written request
56	56	26to the commission by the local licensing authority. The suspension or revocation of a license
57	57	27issued pursuant to this section may be appealed by the limited video gaming machine licensee to
58	58	28the full commission, and the commission shall hear the appeal on the record. The decision
59	59	29rendered by the commission after the hearing shall be final and the licensee shall not be entitled 3 of 5
60	60	30to further review; provided, however, that in the case of a license revocation, the licensee shall
61	61	31be entitled to reapply for a license not less than 5 years from the date in which the final decision
62	62	32of the commission was issued.
63	63	33 (d) A limited video gaming machine licensee shall limit the promotion and operation of,
64	64	34and access to, video gaming machines to members in good standing of the veterans’ organization
65	65	35as well as bonafide members guests over 21 years of age, provided, that no employee or member
66	66	36of the veterans’ organization, holding a limited video gaming machine license shall receive
67	67	37remuneration in any form for time or effort devoted to the promotion or operation of the slot
68	68	38machines.
69	69	39 (e) All VGTs shall be controlled and monitored by a central computer system established
70	70	40by the Commission. No location employees will be allowed to handle cash at any time. There
71	71	41shall be a kiosk connected to the central computer system to securely dispense any winnings.
72	72	42VGTs will only accept cash, no credit or debit cards. Every VGT must have a randomly
73	73	43generated outcome.
74	74	44 (f) A limited video gaming machine license issued pursuant to this section shall be valid
75	75	45for a period of 5 years. The commission shall establish procedures for application and renewal
76	76	46and may establish a fee for application or renewal not to exceed $500. Application and renewal
77	77	47fees shall be deposited into the Gaming Revenue Fund established in section 59 of Chapter 23K.
78	78	48 (g) All manufacturers/distributors, operators and employees and locations receiving a
79	79	49limited video gaming machine license must be compliant with all aspects of Chapter 23K with
80	80	50regard to background checks for all individuals. A manufacturer/distributor can only have a
81	81	51manufacturer/distributor license. An Operator can only have an operator’s license. A location can 4 of 5
82	82	52only have a location license. All licenses will be controlled and issued by the commission. No
83	83	53entity may possess 2 different types of licenses.
84	84	54 (h) Each licensee shall file a return with the commission, on a form prepared by the
85	85	55commission, and shall pay therewith a tax of 35 per cent of the gross profits derived from the
86	86	56video gaming machines located in the limited video gaming machine establishment, which shall
87	87	57be deposited into the Gaming Revenue Fund established in section 59 of Chapter 23K.
88	88	58 (i) No person under 21 years of age shall be permitted in that portion of any building or
89	89	59premises of the licensee during such time as a video gaming machine is being played.
90	90	60 (j) A limited video gaming machine establishment shall keep conspicuously posted on
91	91	61their premises a notice containing the following statement: “If you or someone you know has a
92	92	62gambling problem and wants help, call the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health on the
93	93	63Safer Gaming Education Line at 1-800-426-1234 or the Massachusetts Department of Public
94	94	64Health helpline at 1-800-327-5050.”
95	95	65 (k) Limited video gaming machine licensees shall only acquire video gaming machines
96	96	66from a person licensed as a gaming vendor under section 31 of Chapter 23K. All
97	97	67manufacturers/distributors, operators, approved locations, and all operator employees who repair
98	98	68or handle VGT machines, must be licensed by the commission.
99	99	69 (l) The commission shall, consistent with the public objectives of this chapter established
100	100	70in section 1, promulgate regulations for the implementation, administration and enforcement of
101	101	71this section including, without limitation, regulations that prescribe: (i) the method and form of
102	102	72application which an applicant for licensure shall follow and complete before consideration by
103	103	73the commission; (ii) the information to be furnished by an applicant for a limited video gaming 5 of 5
104	104	74machine license or for the renewal of a limited video gaming machine license; (iii) suitability
105	105	75standards for applicants for licensure pursuant to this section; (iv) the criteria for evaluation of
106	106	76the application for a limited video gaming machine license and qualifications for licensure
107	107	77pursuant to this section; (v) the information to be furnished by a veterans’ organization relating
108	108	78to the members of the veterans’ organization tasked with managing the video gaming machines;
109	109	79(vi) criteria for eligibility for licensure under this section; (vii) conditions on the operation and
110	110	80control of a limited video gaming machine establishment; and (viii) grounds and procedures for
111	111	81the revocation or suspension of a limited video gaming machine license.