Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H496 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/27/2025

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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 515       FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 496
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jeffrey N. Roy
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act protecting the Commonwealth’s gaming industry.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jeffrey N. Roy10th Norfolk1/9/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 515       FILED ON: 1/9/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 496
By Representative Roy of Franklin, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 496) of Jeffrey 
N. Roy relative to the gaming industry of the Commonwealth. Economic Development and 
Emerging Technologies.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 421 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act protecting the Commonwealth’s gaming industry.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1: Notwithstanding the provision of any General or Special Law to the 
2contrary, Chapter 23K of the General Laws as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition is hereby 
3amended as follows:
4 In section 2 by striking the definition of “Category 2 license” and replacing with the 
5following new definition:
6 “Category 2 license” a license issued by the Commission that permits the licensee to 
7operate a gaming establishment with no table games and not more than 1,250 slot machines, 
8except as may otherwise be determined by the Commission subject to the provisions of this 
9Chapter. 2 of 2
10 In section 11 by adding the following new subsection:
11 (d)(1) The Commission may and shall be empowered to consider the benefit to the 
12Commonwealth, community and surrounding communities of allowing the Category 2 licensee 
13to host up to 30 table games and an additional 250 slot machines.  Prior to the entertainment of 
14any such consideration the Commission shall require that:
15 i. The licensee has requested such consideration.
16 ii.The Mayor and City Council or Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting of the 
17category 2 licensee host community have approved and certified approval of such consideration.
18 (2) Upon such requests for consideration, the Commission may authorize, in its absolute 
19and sole discretion, the category 2 licensee to host from 1-30 table games and/or an additional 1-
20250 slot machines if, after 2 public hearings, one of which shall take place in the category 2 host 
21community, the Commission has found and determined that:
22 i. the licensee request meets the applicable requirements of Section 9 of this Chapter 
23and
24 ii.that the Commission’s authorization is in the Commonwealth’s best interests. 
25
26 SECTION 2: Any authorization made by the Commission as a result of the provisions of 
27this Chapter shall in no way constitute licensure and shall terminate if the Category 2 licensee is 
28not renewed subject to the provisions of section 20 (f) of said Chapter 23K, is terminated, 
29surrendered or suspended.