EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0667*
SENATE BILL 667
C7 5lr2105
CF HB 633
By: Senator Guzzone
Introduced and read first time: January 26, 2025
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Gaming – Slot Machines – Skills–Based Amusement Devices 2
FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “slot machine” to provide that certain 3
skills–based amusement devices excluded from the definition may award certain 4
objects that do not exceed a certain minimal value per play and may be accumulated 5
and exchanged for merchandise or prizes of a certain value; and generally relating 6
to slot machines and skills–based amusement devices. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Criminal Law 9
Section 12–301(3) 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Criminal Law 15
12–301. 16
In this subtitle: 17
(3) “slot machine” does not include a machine, apparatus, or device that: 18
(i) awards the user only free additional games or plays; 19
(ii) awards the user only noncash merchandise or noncash prizes of 20
minimal value; 21
2 SENATE BILL 667
(iii) dispenses paper pull tab tip jar tickets or paper pull tab instant 1
bingo tickets that must be opened manually by the user provided that the machine, 2
apparatus, or device does not: 3
1. read the tickets electronically; 4
2. alert the user to a winning or losing ticket; or 5
3. tabulate a player’s winnings and losses; 6
(iv) 1. is a handheld device that displays only facsimiles of bingo 7
cards that an individual uses to mark and monitor contemporaneously to a live call of bingo 8
numbers called on the premises by an individual where the user is operating the machine; 9
2. does not permit a user to play more than 54 bingo cards at 10
the same time; 11
3. does not randomly generate any numbers; and 12
4. is not part of an integrated system; 13
(v) is used by the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission 14
under Title 9 of the State Government Article; 15
(vi) if legislation takes effect authorizing the operation of video 16
lottery terminals, is a video lottery terminal as defined in and licensed under that 17
legislation; 18
(vii) is a skills–based amusement device that awards prizes [of], 19
MERCHANDISE , TICKETS, TOKENS, OR OTHER OBJECTS THA T: 20
1. PER PLAY, DO NOT EXCEED minimal value approved by 21
the State Lottery and Gaming Control Commission through regulation; [or] AND 22
2. MAY BE ACCUMULATED A ND EXCHANGED FOR 23
NONCASH MERCHANDISE OR PRIZES OF VALUE T HAT IS SIMILAR TO TH E 24
CUMULATED VALUE OF T HE OBJECTS EXCHANGED ; OR 25
(viii) is a skills–based device that awards noncash merchandise and is 26
located at a family entertainment center in Worcester County licensed under § 9–1B–02 of 27
the State Government Article. 28
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 29
1, 2025. 30