HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 94916 FILED ON: 4/15/2010
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4619
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand Ten
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An Act establishing expanded gaming in the commonwealth..
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 7 of chapter 4 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out clause Tenth and inserting in place thereof the following clause:-
Tenth, “Illegal gaming,” any banking or percentage game played with cards, dice, tiles, dominoes, or any electronic, electrical or mechanical device or machine for money, property, checks, credit or any representative of value, but excluding: (i) any lottery game conducted by the state lottery commission, pursuant to sections 24, 24A and 27 of chapter 10; (ii) any game conducted pursuant to chapter 23K; (iii) pari-mutuel wagering on horse races, whether live or simulcast, pursuant to chapter 128A and chapter 128C; (iv) the game of bingo conducted pursuant to chapter 271; and (v) any charitable gaming, so called, conducted pursuant to chapter 271.
SECTION 3. Section 48 of said chapter 6 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. Sections 64 and 65 of chapter 10 of the General Laws are hereby repealed.
SECTION 5. Chapter 12 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 11L the following section:-
Section 11M. (a) As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
“Commission”, the Massachusetts gaming commission established pursuant to chapter 23K.
“Division”, the division of gaming enforcement established pursuant to subsection (b).
“Gaming establishment”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 23K.
(b) There shall be in the department of the attorney general a division of gaming enforcement. The attorney general shall designate an assistant attorney general as director of the division. The director may appoint and remove, subject to the approval of the attorney general, such expert, clerical or other assistants as the work of the division may require.
(c) The division shall have jurisdiction to enforce criminal violations of chapter 23K including, but not limited to, the power to: (1) investigate allegations of criminal activity related to or impacting the operation of gaming establishments or games; (2) receive and take appropriate action on referrals for criminal prosecution from the commission; (3) provide assistance, upon request, to the commission in the consideration and promulgation of rules and regulations; (4) ensure that there is no duplication of duties and responsibilities between it and the commission; and (5) recommend persons to be placed on the list of excluded persons maintained by the commission.
No employee of the division, or any person engaged by the division in the course of an investigation, other than those in the performance of their official duties, shall place a wager in any gaming establishment licensed pursuant to chapter 23K during the period of their employment or assignment with the division. The attorney general shall establish a code of ethics for all division employees that is more restrictive than the provisions of chapters 268A and 268B; a copy of which shall be filed with the state ethics commission. The code shall include provisions reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of section 11M including, but not limited to: (i) prohibiting the receipt of gifts by a division employee from any gaming licensee, applicant, close associate, affiliate or other person or entity subject to the jurisdiction of the commission established by chapter 23K; and (ii) prohibiting the participation by a division employee in any particular matter as defined by section 1 of chapter 268A that affects the financial interest of any relative within the third degree of consanguinity or person with whom such employee has a significant relationship as defined by such code.
SECTION 6. Chapter 12B of the General Laws is hereby repealed.
SECTION 7. Subsection (b) of section 9 of chapter 13 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the words “, as well as the state racing commission established by section 48 of chapter 6,” inserted by section 29 of chapter 4 of the acts of 2009.
SECTION 8. Subsection (e) of section 9B of said chapter 13 is hereby amended by striking out the words “, as well as the state racing commission established by section 48 of chapter 6” , inserted by section 30 of said chapter 4.
SECTION 9. Said subsection (e) of said section 9B of said chapter 13, inserted by section 31 of said chapter is hereby amended by striking out the words “or regulated by the state racing commission, as established by section 48 of chapter 6” , inserted by section 30 of said chapter 4,
SECTION 10. Section 38 of chapter 22C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “involving”, in lines 36 and 37, the following word:- illegal.
SECTION 11. Said chapter 22C is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 70. The colonel of state police shall establish a gaming enforcement unit whose responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the investigation of criminal violations of chapter 23K or any other general or special law that pertains to gaming.
The gaming enforcement unit shall work in conjunction and cooperation with the bureau of investigations and enforcement under the Massachusetts gaming commission established pursuant to chapter 23K on the enforcement of chapter 23K as well as the division of gaming enforcement in the office of the attorney general established pursuant to section 11M of chapter 12 to investigate any criminal activity related to gaming in the commonwealth. Officers and employees from the unit shall be assigned to the bureau of investigations and enforcement and shall report to the deputy director of said bureau as well as the colonel of the department of state police pursuant to section 34 of chapter 23K. No officer of the unit, other than in the performance of official duties, shall place a wager in any gaming establishment licensed under chapter 23K.
SECTION 12. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 23J the following chapter:-
CHAPTER 23K.
THE MASSACHUSETTS GAMING COMMISSION
Section 1. The General Court finds and declares that:
(1) ensuring public confidence in the integrity of the gaming licensing process and in the strict oversight of all gaming establishments through a rigorous regulatory scheme is the paramount policy objective of this chapter;
(2) establishing the financial stability and integrity of gaming licensees, as well as the integrity of their sources of financing, is an integral and essential element of the regulation and control of gaming under this chapter;
(3) gaming licensees shall be held to the highest standards of licensing and shall have a continuing duty to maintain their integrity and financial stability;
(4) enhancing and supporting the performance of the state lottery and continuing the commonwealth’s dedication to local aid is imperative to the policy objectives of this chapter;.
(5) the commonwealth must provide for new employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy, particularly opportunities for the unemployed; this chapter sets forth a robust licensing process where applicants for a gaming license shall submit a comprehensive plan for operating a gaming establishment which includes how they will foster and encourage new construction through capital investment and provide permanent employment opportunities to residents of the commonwealth;
(6) promoting local small businesses and the tourism industry, including the development of new and existing small business and tourism amenities such as lodging, dining, retail and cultural and social facilities, is fundamental to the policy objectives of this chapter;
(7) recognizing the importance of the commonwealth’s unique cultural and social resources and integrating them into new development opportunities shall be a key component of a decision to the award of any gaming license under this chapter;
(8) applicants for gaming licenses and gaming licensees shall demonstrate their commitment to efforts to combat compulsive gambling and a dedication to community mitigation, and shall recognize that the privilege of licensure bears a concomitant responsibility to identify, address and minimize any potential negative consequences of their business operations;
(9) any license awarded by the commission shall be a revocable privilege and may be conditioned, suspended or revoked upon: (i) a breach of the conditions of licensure, (ii) any civil or criminal violations of the laws of the commonwealth or other jurisdictions; or (iii) a finding by the commission that a licensee is unsuitable to operate a gaming establishment or perform the duties of their licensed position;
(10) the power and authority granted to the commission shall be construed as broadly as necessary for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this chapter.
Section 2. As used in this chapter the following words shall, unless the context clear requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
“Affiliate”, a person who, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified person.
Applicant”, any person who has applied for a license to engage in activity regulated under this chapter.
“Application”, a written request for a finding of suitability to receive a license or engage in an activity which is regulated under this chapter.
“Bureau”, the investigations and enforcement bureau under the commission.
“Business”, a corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company or any other organization formed for the purpose of carrying on commercial enterprise.
“Category 1 license”, a license issued by the commission that permits the licensee to operate a gaming facility with table games and slot machines .
“Category 2 license”, a license issued by the commission to a thoroughbred horse racing facility or to a harness racing facility to operate up to 750 slot machines at its gaming facility.
“Category 3 license”, a license issued by the commission to a greyhound racing facility to operate up to 750 slot machines at its gaming facility.
“Chair”, the chair of the commission.
“Cheat”, alter the selection of criteria which determines the results of a game or the amount or frequency of payment in a game.
“Close associate”, a person who holds any relevant financial interest in, or is entitled to exercise any power in, the business of an applicant or licensee and, by virtue of that interest or power is able to exercise a significant influence over the management or operation of a gaming establishment or business licensed under this chapter.
“Conservator”, a person appointed by the commission under section 33 to temporarily manage the operation of a gaming establishment.
“Credit card”, a card, code or other device with which a person may defer payment of debt, incur debt and defer its payment, or purchase property or services and defer payment therefor, but not a card, code or other device used to activate a preexisting agreement between a person and a financial institution to extend credit when the person’s account at the financial institution is overdrawn or to maintain a specified minimum balance in the person’s account at the financial institution.
“Credit instrument”, a writing which evidences a gaming debt owed to a person who holds a gaming license at the time the debt is created, and includes any writing taken in consolidation, redemption or payment of a previous credit instrument.
“Commission”, the Massachusetts gaming commission.
“Commissioner”, a member of the commission.
"Complimentary service or item" - a service or item provided at no cost or at a reduced price.
“Deputy director”, the director of the bureau.
“Division”, the division of gaming enforcement under the office of the attorney general.
“Executive director”, the executive director of the Massachusetts gaming commission.
“Foreign business”, any business that was organized outside of the United States or under the laws of a foreign country.
“Gambling”, the playing of a game by a patron of a gaming establishment.
“Game”, any banking or percentage game played with cards, dice, tiles, dominoes, or any electronic, electrical or mechanical device or machine played for money, property, checks, credit or any representative of value which has been approved by the commission pursuant to this chapter.
“Gaming”, the dealing, operating, carrying on, conducting, maintaining or exposing for pay of any game.
“Gaming employee”, any employee of a gaming establishment who is: (i) directly connected to the operation or maintenance of any slot machine or game taking place in the establishment, (ii) provides security in a gaming establishment or (iii) has access to a restricted area of the gaming establishment.
“Gaming establishment”, any premise approved under a gaming license which includes a gaming facility and any other nongaming structures related thereto, including, but not limited to, hotels, restaurants, or other amenities.
“Gaming facility”, any premises of a gaming establishment wherein or whereon any gaming is done.
“Gaming key employee”, any employee of a gaming establishment: (i) in a supervisory capacity, (ii) empowered to make discretionary decisions which regulate gaming facility operations or (iii) so designated by the commission.
“Gaming device” or “Gaming equipment”, any electronic, electrical, or mechanical contrivance or machine used in connection with gaming or any game.
“Gaming license”, a category 1, category 2 or category 3 license.
“Gaming licensee”, any licensee who holds a category 1, category 2 or category 3 gaming license.
“Gaming position”, a designated seat or standing position where a patron of a gaming establishment can play a game.
“Gaming service employee”, any employee of a gaming establishment who is not classified as a gaming employee or a gaming key employee. but is still required to register with the commission.
“Gaming vendor”, any person who offers goods or services to a gaming applicant or licensee on a regular or continuing basis which directly relates to gaming, including, but not limited to, gaming equipment and simulcast wagering equipment manufacturers, suppliers, repairers and independent testing laboratories.
“Greyhound racing facility”, a greyhound racing facility located in Suffolk or Bristol county that was licensed pursuant to chapter 128A to conduct live greyhound racing in calendar year 2009; and (ii) is licensed pursuant to chapter 128C to conduct simulcast wagering.
“Gross revenue” or “gross gaming revenue”, the total of all sums actually received by a gaming licensee from gaming operations less the total of all sums paid out as winnings to patrons; provided however, that the cash equivalent value of any merchandise or thing of value included in a jackpot or payout shall not be included in the total of all sums paid out as winnings to patrons for the purpose of determining gross revenue. Gross revenue shall not include any amount received by a gaming licensee from simulcast wagering and shall not include credit extended or collected by the licensee for purposes other than gaming.
“Harness horse racing facility”, a harness horse racing facility located in Norfolk county that was licensed pursuant to chapter 128A to conduct live harness horse racing in calendar year 2009; and (ii) is licensed pursuant to chapter 128A to conduct live harness horse racing and licensed pursuant to chapter 128C to conduct simulcast wagering.
“Holding company”, any corporation, association, firm, partnership, trust or other form of business organization other than a natural person which, directly or indirectly, owns, has the power or right to control, or has the power to vote any significant part of the outstanding voting securities of a corporation or other form of business organization which holds or applies for a gaming license. For the purposes of this definition, in addition to other reasonable meaning of the words used, a holding company indirectly has, holds or owns any such power, right or security if it does so through any interest in a subsidiary or successive subsidiaries, however many such subsidiaries may intervene between the holding company and the gaming licensee or applicant.
“Host community”, any municipality in which a gaming establishment is or may be located.
“Institutional investor”, any of the following entities having a 5 per cent or greater ownership interest in a gaming establishment or gaming licensee: a corporation, bank, insurance company, pension fund or pension fund trust, retirement fund, including funds administered by a public agency, employees’ profit-sharing fund or employees’ profit-sharing trust, an association engaged, as a substantial part of its business or operation, in purchasing or holding securities, or any trust in respect of which a bank is a trustee or co-trustee, investment company registered under the federal Investment Company Act of 1940, collective investment trust organized by banks under part nine of the Rules of the Comptroller of Currency, closed end investment trust, chartered or licensed life insurance company or property and casualty insurance company, investment advisor registered pursuant to the federal Investment Advisors Act of 1940, and such other persons as the commission may reasonably determine to qualify as an institutional investor for reasons consistent with this chapter.
“Intermediary company”, any corporation, association, firm, partnership, trust or any other form of business organization other than a natural person which is a holding company with respect to a corporation or other form of business organization which holds or applies for a gaming license, and is a subsidiary with respect to any holding company.
“Junket”, an arrangement intended to induce any person to come to a gaming establishment to gamble, where the person is selected or approved for participation on the basis of his ability to satisfy a financial qualification obligation related to his ability or willingness to gamble or on any other basis related to his propensity to gamble, and pursuant to which, and as consideration for which, any or all of the cost of transportation, food, lodging, and entertainment for said person is directly or indirectly paid by a gaming licensee or affiliate thereof.
“Junket enterprise”, any person, other than an applicant for a gaming license or gaming licensee, who employs or otherwise engages the services of a junket representative in connection with a junket to a licensed casino, regardless of whether or not those activities occur within the commonwealth.
“Junket representative”, any individual who negotiates the terms of, or engages in the referral, procurement or selection of persons who may participate in, any junket to a gaming establishment, regardless of whether or not those activities occur within the commonwealth.
“License”, any license required under this chapter.
“List”, the list of excluded persons maintained by the commission pursuant to section 39.
“Lottery”, the Massachusetts state lottery established pursuant to section 23 of chapter 10.
“Major policy making position”, the executive or administrative head or heads of the commission and any person whose salary equals or exceeds that of a state employee classified in step one of job group XXV of the general salary schedule contained in section 46 of chapter 30 and who reports directly to said executive or administrative head; the head of each bureau, bureau, or other major administrative unit within the commission and persons exercising similar authority.
“Operation certificate”, a certificate issued by the commission pursuant to section 27.
“Qualification” or “qualified”, the process of licensure set forth by the commission to determine that all persons who have a professional interest in a gaming license, or gaming vendor license, or the business of a gaming licensee or gaming vendor,meet the same standards of suitability to operate or conduct business with a gaming establishment in the commonwealth.
“Person”, any individual, corporation, association, operation, firm, partnership, trust or other form of business association.
“Promotional gaming credit”, a slot machine credit or other item issued by a gaming licensee to a patron for the purpose of enabling the placement of a wager at a slot machine.
“Regulated entity”, any person engaged in any business which is, or the persons engaged in which are, in any respect made subject to the supervision or regulation of the commission by any provision of law.
“Resort casino”, a gaming establishment that includes a gaming facility, at least 1 hotel and may include other non-gaming amenities, such as entertainment venues, retail stores, recreational facilities and restaurants.
“Slot machine”, any mechanical, electrical or other device, contrivance or machine which, upon insertion of a coin, token or similar object therein, or upon payment of any consideration whatsoever, is available to play or operate, the play or operation of which, whether by reason of the skill of the operator or application of the element of chance, or both, may deliver or entitle the individual playing or operating the machine to receive cash or tokens to be exchanged for cash, or to receive merchandise or anything of value whatsoever, whether the payoff is made automatically from the machine or in any other manner whatsoever, except that the cash equivalent value of any merchandise or other thing of value shall not be included in determining the payout percentage of any slot machine.
“State police”, the Massachusetts state police established pursuant to chapter 22C.
“Subsidiary”, any corporation, any significant part of whose outstanding equity securities are owned, subject to a power or right of control, or held with power to vote, by a holding company or an intermediary company; or a significant interest in any firm, association, partnership, trust or other form of business organization, other than a natural person, which is owned, subject to a power or right of control, or held with power to vote, by a holding company or an intermediary company.
“Table game”, any game, other than a slot machine, which is authorized by the commission to be played in a gaming facility.
“Thoroughbred horse racing facility”, a thoroughbred racing facility located in Suffolk county that was licensed pursuant to chapter 128A to conduct live running horse racing in calendar year 2009; and (ii) is licensed pursuant to chapter 128A to conduct live harness horse racing and licensed pursuant to chapter 128C to conduct simulcast wagering.
“Transfer”, the sale and every other method, direct or indirect, of disposing of or parting with property or with an interest therein, or with the possession thereof, or of fixing a lien upon property or upon an interest therein, absolutely or conditionally, voluntarily or involuntarily, by or without judicial proceedings, as a conveyance, sale, payment, pledge, mortgage, lien, encumbrance, gift, security or otherwise; the retention of a security interest in property delivered to a corporation shall be deemed a transfer suffered by such corporation.
“Wager”, a sum of money or representative of value that is risked on an occurrence for which the outcome is uncertain.
Section 3. (a) There shall be established a Massachusetts gaming commission which shall consist of 5 commissioners who shall be appointed by a majority vote of the governor, attorney general and state treasurer, 1 of whom shall have experience in legal and policy issues related to gaming, 1 of whom shall have experience in corporate finance and securities, 1 of whom shall have experience with criminal investigations and law enforcement, 1 of whom shall be a certified public accountant who has a comprehensive knowledge of corporate auditing, and 1 of whom shall have at least 5 years experience in public or business administration. The governor, attorney general and treasurer shall, by majority vote, appoint a commissioner to serve as chair. The commissioner appointed to chair shall serve in such capacity throughout such commissioner’s entire term and until his successor shall be been appointed. Prior to appointment a background investigation shall be conducted into the financial stability, integrity and responsibility of a candidate for appointment to the commission as well as the candidate’s reputation for good character, honesty and integrity. No person who has been convicted of a felony shall be eligible to serve on the commission.
(b) Each commissioner shall be a resident of the commonwealth and, while serving on the commission, shall not: (i) hold, or be a candidate for, federal, state or local elected office; (ii) hold an appointed office in federal, state, or local government; or (iii) serve as an official in a political party. Not more than 3 commissioners shall be from the same political party.
(c) Each commissioner shall serve for a term of 5 years or until a successor is appointed and shall be eligible for reappointment; provided, however, that no commissioner shall serve more than 10 years. Any person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of a commissioner shall be appointed in a like manner and shall serve for only the unexpired term of such commissioner. Any commissioner may be removed from his appointment only for cause and upon a unanimous vote of the governor, the attorney general and the state treasurer which shall be final and not subject to review.
(d) Three commissioners shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a majority of the commissioners present shall be necessary for any action to be taken by the commission at a duly called meeting.
Commissioners shall receive salaries equal to the salary of the commissioner of administration established pursuant to section 4 of chapter 7; provided, however, that the chair shall receive a stipend, in addition to the base salary, in an amount equal to 7 per cent of the base salary. Commissioners shall devote their full time and attention to the duties of their office.
(e) The commission shall annually elect 1 of its commissioners to serve as secretary and 1 of its members to serve as treasurer. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the commission and shall be the custodian and keeper of the records of all books, documents, and papers filed by the commission and of its minute book. The secretary shall cause copies to be made of all minutes and other records and documents of the commission and shall certify that such copies are true copies, and all persons dealing with the commission may rely upon such certification.
(f) The chair shall have and exercise supervision and control over all the affairs of the commission. He shall preside at all hearings at which he is present, and shall designate a commissioner to act as chair in his absence. He shall not, except as is otherwise provided herein, be charged with any administrative functions. To promote efficiency in administration, he shall from time to time make such division or re-division of the work of the commission among the commissioners as he deems expedient. All of the commissioners shall, if so directed by the chair, participate in the hearing and decision of any matter before the commission. In the hearing of all matters other than those of formal or administrative character coming before the commission, at least 2 commissioners shall participate and in the decision of all such matters at least 2 commissioners shall participate; provided, however, that any such matter may be heard, examined and investigated by an employee of the commission designated and assigned thereto by the chair with the concurrence of 1 other commissioner. Such employee shall make a report in writing relative to every such matter to the commission for its decision thereon. For the purposes of hearing, examining and investigating any such matter such employee shall have all of the powers conferred upon a commissioner by this section, and all pertinent provisions of this section shall apply to such proceedings. In every hearing the concurrence of a majority of the commissioners participating in the decision shall be necessary therefor.
(g) The commission shall appoint an executive director. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission, shall receive such salary as may be determined by the commission, and shall devote full time and attention to the duties of the office. The executive director shall be a person with skill and experience in management and shall be the executive and administrative head of the commission and shall be responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of law relative to the commission and to each administrative unit thereof. The executive director shall appoint and employ a chief financial and accounting officer and may, subject to the approval of the commission, employ other employees, consultants, agents, and advisors, including legal counsel, and shall attend meetings of the commission. The chief financial and accounting officer of the commission shall be in charge of its funds, books of account and accounting records. No funds shall be transferred by the commission without the approval of the commission and the signatures of the chief financial and accounting officer and the treasurer.
In the case of an absence or vacancy in the office of the executive director, or in the case of disability as determined by the commission, the commission may designate an acting executive director to serve as executive director until the vacancy is filled or the absence or disability ceases. The acting executive director shall have all the powers and duties of the executive director and shall have similar qualifications as the executive director.
(h) The executive director may from time to time, subject to the approval of the commission, establish within the commission such administrative units as may be necessary for the efficient and economical administration of the commission, and when necessary for such purpose, may abolish any such administrative unit, or may merge any 2 or more units. The executive director shall prepare and keep current a plan of the organization of the commission, of the assignment of its functions to its various administrative units, offices and employees, and of the places at which and the methods whereby the public may receive information or make requests. A current copy of the plan of organization shall be kept on file with the state secretary and in the office of the secretary of administration.
(i) The executive director may appoint such persons as he shall deem necessary to perform the functions of the commission; provided that chapter 31 and section 9A of chapter 30 shall not apply to any commission employee. If an employee serving in a position which is classified under said chapter 31 or in which an employee has tenure by reason of said section 9A of chapter 30 shall be appointed to a position within this office which is not subject to the provisions of said chapter 31, the employee shall, upon termination of his service in such position, be restored to the position which he held immediately prior to such appointment; provided, however, that his service in such position shall be determined by the civil service commission in accordance with the standards applied by said commission in administering said chapter 31. Such restoration shall be made without impairment of his civil service status or tenure under said section 9A of chapter 30 and without loss of seniority, retirement or other rights to which uninterrupted service in such prior position would have entitled him. During the period of such appointment, each person so appointed from a position in the classified civil service shall be eligible to take any competitive promotional examination for which he would otherwise have been eligible. The executive director shall consider current employees of the state racing commission as eligible for employment with the commission and shall transfer said employees into the commission if qualified under this chapter.
The commission may require a prospective employee to: (i) submit an application and a personal disclosure on a form prescribed by the commission which shall include a complete criminal history, including convictions and current charges for all felonies and misdemeanors; (ii) undergo testing which detects the presence of illegal substances in the body; or (iii) provide fingerprints and a photograph consistent with standards adopted by the state police. The commission shall verify the identification, employment and education of each prospective employee, including: (i) legal name, including any alias; (ii) all secondary and post secondary educational institutions attended regardless of graduation status; (iii) place of residence; and (iv) employment history.
The commission shall not hire a prospective employee if the prospective employee has: (i) been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor that, in the discretion of the commission, bears a close relationship to the duties and responsibilities of the position for which employment is sought; (ii) been dismissed from prior employment for gross misconduct or incompetence; or (iii) intentionally made a false statement concerning a material fact in connection with the application to the commission. If an employee of the commission is charged with a felony or misdemeanor while employed by the commission, the commission may suspend the employee or terminate employment with the commission.
(j) The provisions of chapters 268A and 268B shall apply to all commissioners and employees of the commission; provided, however, that the commission shall establish a code of ethics for all members and employees that is more restrictive than said chapter 268A or 268B. A copy of such code shall be filed with the state ethics commission. The code shall include provisions reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and any other laws subject to the jurisdiction of the commission including, but not limited to: (i) prohibiting the receipt of gifts by a commissioner and employee from any gaming licensee, applicant, close associate, affiliate or other person or entity subject to the jurisdiction of the commission; (ii) prohibiting the participation by a commissioner and employee in any particular matter as defined by section 1 of chapter 268A that affects the financial interest of any relative within the third degree of consanguinity or person with whom such commissioner or employee has a significant relationship as defined by such code; and (iii) for recusal of a commissioner in any licensing decision due to a potential conflict of interest.
(k) Immediately upon assuming office, each commissioner and employee of the commission, except for secretarial and clerical personnel, shall swear or affirm that the commissioner or employee possesses no interest in any regulated entity.
(l) No individual shall be employed by the commission if, during the period commencing 3 years prior to employment, that individual held any direct or indirect interest in, or was employed by a licensee under this chapter.
(m) No employee of the commission shall pursue any other business or occupation or other gainful employment outside of the commission without the prior written approval of the commission that such employment shall not interfere or be in conflict with the employee’s duties to the commission.
(n) No commissioner shall hold any direct or indirect interest in, or be employed by, any applicant or by any person licensed by the commission for a period of 3 years after the termination of employment with the commission.
No employee of the commission holding a major policy making position shall acquire interest in, or accept employment with, any applicant or licensee under this chapter for a period of 2 years after the termination of employment with the commission.
No employee of the commission in a non-major policy making position shall acquire interest in, or accept employment with, any applicant or licensee under this chapter for a period of 1 year after termination of employment with the commission.
(o) Any commission employee assigned to a gaming facility shall be considered an essential state employee.
(p) No commissioner or employee, other than in the performance of his official duties, shall place a wager in any licensed entity.
(q) The commissioners, executive director and those employees holding a major policy-making position shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their official duties. Each commissioner, executive director and those employees holding a major policy making position shall conduct themselves in a manner so as to render decisions that are fair and impartial and in the public interest; avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all matters under their jurisdiction; avoid all prohibited communications; require staff and personnel subject to their direction and control to observe the same standards of fidelity and diligence; disqualify themselves from proceedings in which their impartiality might reasonably be questioned; and refrain from financial or business dealings which would tend to reflect adversely on impartiality.
(r) The commissioners and employees shall not own, or be in the employ of, or own any stock in, any business which holds a license under this chapter, nor shall they have in any way directly or indirectly a pecuniary interest in, or be connected with, any such business or in the employ or connected with any person financing any such business; provided further, that immediate family members of commissioners and employees holding major policy making positions shall not own, or be in the employ of, or own stock in, any business which holds a license under this chapter. The commissioners and employees shall not personally, or through any partner or agent, render any professional service or make or perform any business contract with or for any regulated entity, except contracts made with the commissioners for furnishing of services, nor shall he or she directly or indirectly receive any commission, bonus, discount, gift or reward from any regulated entity.
(s) Neither the commission nor any of its officers, agents, employees, consultants or advisors shall be subject to the provisions of sections 9A, 45, 46 and 52 of chapter 30, or to chapter 31, or to chapter 200 of the acts of 1976.
(t) The Massachusetts gaming commission shall be a commission for the purposes of section 3 of chapter 12.
Section 4. The commission shall have all powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate its purposes, including, but not limited to, the power to:
appoint officers and hire employees;
establish, and from time to time amend, such a plan of organization as it may deem expedient pursuant to subsection (h) of section 3;
execute all instruments necessary or convenient thereto for accomplishing the purposes of this chapter;
enter into agreements or other transactions with any person, including, but not limited to, any public entity or other governmental instrumentality or authority in connection with its powers and duties under this chapter;
appear on its own behalf before boards, commissions, departments or other agencies of municipal, state or federal government;
apply for and accept subventions, grants, loans, advances and contributions from any source of money, property, labor or other things of value, to be held, used and applied for its purposes;
provide and pay for advisory services and technical assistance as may be necessary in its judgment to carry out the purpose of this chapter and fix their compensation;
prepare, publish and distribute, with or without charge, as the commission may determine, such studies, reports and bulletins and other material as the commission deems appropriate;
assure that licenses shall not be issued to nor held by, nor shall there be any material involvement, directly or indirectly, with a gaming operation or the ownership thereof, by unqualified, disqualified, or unsuitable persons or persons whose operations are conducted in a manner not conforming with this chapter;
require any person to apply for a license as provided in this chapter and approve or disapprove any such application or other transactions, events, and processes as provided in this chapter;
require any person who has any kind of business association with a gaming licensee or applicant to be qualified for licensure under this chapter;
develop criteria, in addition to those outlined in this chapter, to assess which applications for gaming licenses will provide the highest and best value to the commonwealth;
determine which applicants shall be awarded gaming licenses and other licenses in accordance with the terms of this chapter;
gather facts and information applicable to the commission’s obligation to issue, suspend or revoke licenses, work permits, or registrations granted to any person for: (i) violation of any provision of this chapter or regulation adopted hereunder; (ii) willfully violating an order of the commission directed to such person; (iii) the conviction of any criminal offense under this chapter; or (iv) the commission of any violation of this chapter or other offense which would disqualify such person from holding a license, work permit or registration;
conduct investigations into the qualifications of all applicants for employment by the commission and by any regulated entity and all applicants for licensure;
request and receive from the state police, the criminal history systems board, or other criminal justice agencies, including but not limited to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation and the federal Internal Revenue Service, such criminal offender record information relating to criminal and background investigations as necessary for the purpose of evaluating employees of, and applicants for employment by, the commission and any regulated entity, and evaluating licensees and applicants for licensure.
be present through its inspectors and agents at all times in gaming establishments for the purposes of: (i) certifying the revenue thereof, (ii) receiving complaints from the public relating to the conduct of gaming and wagering operations, (iii) examining records of revenues and procedures, inspecting and auditing all books, documents, and records of any licensee, (iv) conducting periodic reviews of operations and facilities for the purpose of regulations adopted thereunder, and (v) otherwise exercising its oversight responsibilities with respect to gaming;
inspect and have access to all equipment and supplies in any licensed gaming establishment or in any premises where gaming equipment is manufactured, sold or distributed;
seize and remove from the premises of any gaming licensee and impound any equipment, supplies, documents or records for the purpose of examination and inspection;
demand access to and inspect, examine, photocopy and audit all papers, books and records of any affiliate of a licensee whom the commission suspects is involved in the financing, operation or management of the licensee. The inspection, examination, photocopying and audit may take place on the affiliate’s premises or elsewhere as practicable, and in the presence of the affiliate or its agent;
require that the books and financial or other records or statements of any licensee be kept in a manner that the commission deems proper;
levy and collect assessments, fees and fines and impose penalties and sanctions for the violation of this chapter and the regulations promulgated hereunder;
collect taxes;
restrict, suspend or revoke licenses issued under this chapter;
conduct adjudicatory proceedings and promulgate regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 30A;
refer cases for criminal prosecution to the appropriate federal, state or local authorities;
issue subpoenas and compel the attendance of witnesses at any place within the commonwealth, administer oaths and require testimony under oath before the commission in the course of any investigation or hearing conducted under this chapter; and
maintain an official Internet website for the commission;
adopt, amend, or repeal regulations for the administration and enforcement of this chapter. Act as trustees for any gaming related trust funds.
Section 5. The commission shall promulgate regulations for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this chapter including without limitation regulations that:
(1) prescribe the method and form of application which any applicant for licensure shall follow and complete before consideration of an application by the commission;
(2) prescribe the information to be furnished by any applicant or licensee concerning his antecedents, habits, character, associates, criminal record, business activities and financial affairs, past or present;
(3) prescribe the information to be furnished by a gaming licensee relating to his gaming employees;
(4) require fingerprinting of an applicant for a gaming license, a gaming licensee or employee of a gaming licensee or other methods of identification;
(5) prescribe the manner and method of collection and payment of fees and issuance of licenses;
(6) prescribe grounds and procedures for the revocation or suspension of licenses;
(7) require quarterly financial reports and an annual audit prepared by a certified public accountant attesting to the financial condition of a gaming licensee and disclosing whether the accounts, records and control procedures examined are maintained by the gaming licensee as required by this chapter and the regulations promulgated thereunder;
(8) prescribe the minimum procedures for effective control over the internal fiscal affairs of a gaming licensee, including provisions for the safeguarding of assets and revenues, the recording of cash and evidence of indebtedness and the maintenance of reliable records, accounts and reports of transactions, operations and events, including reports by the commission;
(9) provide for a minimum uniform standard of accounting procedures;
(10) establish licensure and work permits for employees working at the gaming establishment and minimum training requirements; provided further that the commission may establish certification procedures for any training schools in the commonwealth as well as the minimum requirements for reciprocal licensing for out of out-of-state gaming employees; and
(11) require that all gaming establishment employees be properly trained in their respective professions.
(12) require the posting of payback statistics of slot machines played in a gaming facility; and
(13) require that all gaming establishments have security patrols outside the gaming establishments who conduct regular checks of parking areas for minors left in motor vehicles and shall immediately report any such finding to security personnel at the gaming establishment.
The commission may, pursuant to section 2 of chapter 30A, promulgate, amend, or repeal any regulation promulgated under this chapter as an emergency regulation if such regulation is necessary to protect the interests of the commonwealth in regulating a gaming establishment.
Section 6. The commission shall administer and enforce chapter 128A and 128C and any other general or special law related to pari-mutuel wagering or simulcasting. The commission shall serve as a host racing commission and an off-track betting commission for purposes of 15 U.S.C.A.30001, et seq.
Section 7. (a) In addition to any other tax or fee imposed by this chapter, there shall be imposed an annual license fee of $600 for each machine approved by the commission for use by a gaming licensee at a gaming establishment; provided, however, that, no sooner than 5 years after award of original license the commission may annually adjust the fee for inflation. The fee shall be imposed as of July 1 of each year for all approved slot machines on that date and shall be assessed on a pro rata basis for any slot machine approved for use thereafter during the year.
(b) The commission shall, by regulation, establish fees for any investigation into a violation of this chapter or regulation promulgated thereunder by a gaming licensee to be paid by the licensee, including, but not limited to, billable hours by commission staff involved in the investigation and the costs of services, equipment or other expenses that are incurred by the commission during the investigation.
(c) Any remaining costs of the commission necessary to maintain regulatory control over gaming establishments that are not covered by: (i) the fees set forth in subsections (a) and (b), (ii) any other fees assessed pursuant to this chapter or (ii) any other designated source of funding shall be assessed annually on gaming licensees under this chapter in proportion to the number of gaming positions at each gaming facility. Each licensee shall pay the amount assessed against it within 30 days after the date of the notice of assessment from the commission.
(d) If the fees collected in subsections (a) and (b) exceed the cost required to maintain regulatory control, the surplus funds shall be credited in proportional shares against each gaming licensee’s next assessment.
(e) In addition to the fees collected under this section and any additional costs of the commission, the commission shall assess an annual fee of not less than $5,000,000 in proportional shares against each gaming licensee in proportion to the number of gaming positions at each gaming facility for the costs of service and public health programs dedicated to addressing problems associated with compulsive gambling. Such assessed fees shall be deposited into the Public Health Trust Fund established pursuant to section 9.
(f) All fees and assessments collected under this section, except those collected pursuant to subsection (e), shall be deposited into the Gaming Control Fund established pursuant to section 8.
Section 8. (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Massachusetts Gaming Control Fund, hereinafter in this section referred to as the fund. The commission shall be the trustee of the fund expend monies to finance operational activities of the commission. The fund shall be credited any appropriations, bond proceeds or other monies authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited thereto, the proceeds of the assessments levied pursuant to section 7, application fees for licenses issued under this chapter and such additional funds as are subject to the direction and control of the commission. All available monies in the fund that are unexpended at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure in the subsequent fiscal year. Any funds unexpended in any fiscal year for the purposes of which such assessments were made shall be credited against the assessment to be made in the following fiscal year and the assessment in the following fiscal year shall be reduced by any such unexpended amount. The commission shall record all expenditures made by subsidiary on the Massachusetts management and accounting reporting system, so-called according to regulations established by the state comptroller.
(b) The commission shall, for the purposes of compliance with state finance law, operate as a state agency as defined in section 1 of chapter 29 and shall be subject to the provisions applicable to agencies under the control of the governor including, but not limited to, chapter 7A, chapter 7, chapter 10 and chapter 29; provided, however, that the comptroller may identify any additional instructions or actions necessary for the commission to manage fiscal operations in the state accounting system and meet statewide and other governmental accounting and audit standards. Unless otherwise exempted by law or the applicable central service agency, the commission shall participate in any other available commonwealth central services including, but not limited, to the state payroll system pursuant to section 31 of chapter 29, and may purchase other goods and services provided by state agencies in accordance with comptroller provisions. The comptroller may chargeback the commission for the transition and ongoing costs for participation in the state accounting and payroll systems and may retain and expend such costs without further appropriation for the purposes of this section. The commission shall be subject to section 5D of chapter 29 and subsection (f) of section 6B of chapter 29.
The commission shall annually submit a finance plan to the secretary of administration and finance, the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies.
Section 9. There is hereby established and placed on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Public Health Trust Fund. The public health trust fund shall consist of fees assessed pursuant to section 7 and all other monies credited or transferred to said fund from any other source pursuant to law. The secretary of health and human services shall be the trustee of the public health trust fund and shall expend monies in the fund, without further appropriation, to assist social service and public health programs dedicated to addressing problems associated with compulsive gambling, including, but not limited to, gambling prevention and addiction services, educational campaigns to mitigate the potential addictive nature of gambling and any studies and evaluations necessary to ensure the proper and most effective strategies.
Section 10. (a) The commission shall issue a request for applications for gaming licenses which shall include:
(i) the time and date for receipt of responses to the request for applications, the manner they are to be received and the address of the office to which the applications are to be delivered;
(ii) the form of the application and the method for submission;
(iii) a general description of the anticipated schedule for processing the application;
(iv) the contact information of commission employees responsible for handling applicant questions; and
(v) any other information that the commission determines.
(b) Any request for applicants in subsection (a) shall be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the commonwealth and on the official internet website of the commission.
(c) The commission shall establish deadlines for the receipt of all applications for a gaming license. Applications received after the deadline shall not be eligible for review by the commission. Applicants who are eligible for a category 2 or category 3 license who choose to apply for a category 1 license shall submit applications for both gaming licenses by the deadline set by the commission.
Section 11. (a) All applicants for a gaming license, and any person required by the commission to be qualified for licensure, shall establish their individual qualifications for licensure to the commission by clear and convincing evidence.
(b) All applicants, licensees, registrants and any other person who shall be qualified pursuant to this chapter shall have the continuing duty to provide any assistance or information required by the commission and to cooperate in any inquiry or investigation conducted by the commission. Refusal to answer or produce information, evidence or testimony by an applicant, licensee, registrant or person required to be qualified under this chapter may result in denial of the application or suspension or revocation of license or registration by the commission.
(c) No applicant, licensee, registrant or person required to be qualified under this chapter shall willfully withhold information from, or knowingly give false or misleading information to, the commission.
If the commission determines that an applicant or a close associate of an applicant, has willfully provided false or misleading information, such applicant shall no longer be eligible to receive a license under this chapter.
Any licensee or other person required to be qualified for licensure under this chapter who willfully provides false or misleading information shall have their license conditioned, suspended or revoked by the commission.
Section 12. (a) The commission shall have the power to require anyone with an interest in the gaming establishment, an interest in the business of the gaming licensee or who is a close associate of a gaming licensee to be qualified for licensure under this chapter pursuant to the criteria set forth in sections 14 and 19.
( b) For every business which applies for a gaming license, the commission shall determine whether each officer and director of a corporation, other than a publicly traded corporation, general partner and limited partner of a limited partnership, and member, transferee of a member’s interest in a limited-liability company, director and manager of a limited-liability company which holds or applies for a gaming license meets the standards for qualification of licensure pursuant to sections 14 and 19, as well as, in the judgment of the commission, any or all of a business’s individual stockholders, lenders, holders of evidence of indebtedness, underwriters, key executives, agents or employees.
(c) Any person owning more than 5 per cent of the common stock of the applicant company or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of an applicant company shall be required to file for licensure. The commission may waive the licensing requirements for institutional investors holding up to 15 per cent of the stock of the applicant company or holding, intermediary or subsidiary company of the applicant company upon a showing by the person seeking the waiver that the applicant purchased the securities for investment purposes only and does not have any intention to influence or affect the affairs or operations of the applicant company or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of the applicant company. Any institutional investor granted a waiver which subsequently determines to influence or affect the affairs or operations of the applicant company or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of the applicant company shall provide not less than 30 days notice to the commission of such intent and shall file an application and be subject to the licensing requirements of this chapter before taking any action that may influence or affect the affairs of the applicant company or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of the applicant company. Any company holding over 15 per cent of the applicant company, or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of an applicant company shall be deemed to be a qualifier and shall file an application form with the commission and be subject to the licensing requirements of this chapter.
(d) A person who is required to be qualified for licensure by this section as a general or limited partner shall not serve in that position until he secures the required approval of the commission.
(e) The commission shall require any person involved in the financing of a gaming facility to be qualified for licensure pursuant to sections 14 and 19 and may allow such person to seek a waiver pursuant to the standards in subsection (c).
(f) A person required to be qualified for licensure shall apply for qualification within 30 days after taking a position with the business. A person who is required to be qualified for licensure pursuant to a decision of the commission shall apply for qualification within 30 days after said decision.
(g) If a corporation or other form of business organization applying for a gaming license is, or if a corporation or other form of business organization holding a gaming license is to become, a subsidiary, each holding company, intermediary company, and other entity shall be required to qualify for licensure.
(h) The commission shall have the authority to require the licensing of any company or individual that can presently or was able to exercise control or provide direction to any applicant or licensee company or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of an applicant or licensee company.
Section 13. The commission shall deny an application for a gaming license, or any license or registration issued under this chapter, if the applicant: (i) has been convicted of a felony or other convictions involving embezzlement, theft, fraud or perjury; provided, however that for convictions which occurred before the 10-year period immediately preceding application for licensure, an applicant may demonstrate, and the commission shall consider, their rehabilitation and why such conviction should not be an automatic disqualification under this section; (ii) submitted an application for a license under this chapter that contains false or misleading information; (iii) committed prior acts which have not been prosecuted or convicted but form a pattern of misconduct that make the applicant unsuitable for a license under this chapter; or (iv) has affiliates or close associates that would not qualify under the provisions of this chapter or whose relationship with the applicant could pose an injurious threat to the interests of the commonwealth in awarding a gaming license to the applicant.
Section 14. No applicant shall be eligible to receive a gaming license unless the applicant meets the following criteria and clearly states as part of an application that the applicant:
(1) agrees to be a state lottery reseller for the purpose of lottery, multi-jurisdictional lottery and keno games, and to demonstrate that state lottery and keno games are readily accessible to its guests;
(2) has suitable capital to finance its operations and the proposed capital investment; provided, however, that such investment shall not include the purchase or lease price of the land where the gaming establishment will be located or any infrastructure designed to support the site, including, but not limited to, drainage, utility support, roadways, interchanges, fill and soil or groundwater or surface water contamination issues whether or not the applicant is an eligible owner or operator under chapter 206 of the acts of 1998;
(3) will have ownership of the land where the gaming establishment will be located within 60 days after a license has been awarded;
(4) shall demonstrate that it is able to pay and shall commit to paying the gaming licensing fee;
(5) shall demonstrate to the commission how the applicant proposes to address lottery mitigation, compulsive gambling problems, workforce development and community development and all host community impact and mitigation issues.
(6) shall identify the infrastructure costs of the host and surrounding communities incurred in direct relation to the construction and operation of a gaming establishment and shall commit to a community mitigation plan for those communities;
(7) shall provide to the commission a signed agreement between the host community and the applicant setting forth the conditions to have a gaming establishment located within the host community; provided that the agreement shall include a community impact fee for the host community and all stipulations of responsibilities between the host community and the applicant; and
(8) shall comply with state and local building codes.
Section 15. (a) In addition to the requirements set forth in section 14, no business shall be eligible to apply for a gaming license unless it: (i) is organized under the laws of the commonwealth, although such business organization may be a wholly or partially owned subsidiary of a foreign business; (ii) maintains an office in the gaming establishment; (iii) maintains a ledger in the gaming establishment of the business organization reflecting the current ownership of the business organization, and in the case of a corporation, of every class of security issued by the corporation; (iv) maintains all operating accounts required by the commission in a bank chartered in the commonwealth or in a bank with a full service branch present in the commonwealth; (v) includes among the purposes stated in its official filings with the state secretary the conduct of gaming; (vi) in the case of a non-publicly traded corporation, files with the commission such adopted corporate charter provisions as may be necessary to establish the right of prior approval by the commission with regard to transfers of securities, shares, and other interests in the applicant corporation; (vii) in the case of a publicly traded corporation, provides in its corporate charter that any securities of such corporation are held subject to the condition that if a holder thereof is found to be disqualified by the authority pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, such holder shall dispose of his interest in the corporation; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to require that any security of such corporation bear any legend to this effect; and (viii) in the case of a non-publicly traded corporation, establishes that appropriate charter provisions create the absolute right of such non-publicly traded corporations and companies to repurchase at the market price or the purchase price, whichever is the lesser, any security, share or other interest in the corporation in the event that the commission disapproves a transfer in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) Any publicly traded holding, intermediary, or subsidiary of the corporation, whether the corporation is publicly traded or not, shall contain in its corporate charter the same provisions required under subsection (a) for a publicly traded corporation to be eligible to apply for a gaming license.
(c) Any non-publicly traded holding, intermediary or subsidiary of the corporation, whether the corporation is publicly traded or not, shall establish that its charter provisions are the same as those required under subsection (a) for a non-publicly traded corporation to be eligible to apply for a gaming license.
Section 16. (a) No person shall be eligible to receive a category 1 license without a certified and binding vote in favor of such license on a ballot question at an election in the host community where the category 1 facility will be located; provided further that the host community shall be reimbursed for its expenses related to the election by the applicant for a category 1 license.
An applicant for a category 1 license shall have certification of ballot approval by the host community within 3 months of submitting an application for a category 1 license to the commission; provided, however, that the applicant shall include with the application a certified letter from the clerk of the host community of a date certain for the election within the 3 month period.
(b) No person shall be eligible to apply for a category 2 or category 3 license without a binding vote in the host community where the gaming establishment will be located by a majority of members of the town council, or in a city having a Plan D or Plan E charter, the city manager and the city council and in any other city the mayor and city council and in towns a majority vote of those present and voting at a town meeting and approval by the board of selectmen; provided further that an applicant for a category 2 or category 3 license who has received such a vote shall be required to obtain a vote on a ballot question pursuant to subsection (a) if said applicant is applying for a category 1 license.
(c) The governing body of a host community which has adopted the provisions of chapter 43D shall file a proposal with the interagency permitting board to designate the site proposed for a category 1 facility as priority development site. In a community which has not adopted the provisions of chapter 43D, the planning board shall designate a local permitting ombudsman, who shall be a planning board member or a member of the planning board’s professional staff, to help coordinate and expedite local permitting of the category 1 facility. In a community where no professional planning staff exists, the local permitting ombudsman shall be a panel consisting of 1 representative from the planning board, 1 member from the zoning board of appeals, 1 member from the conservation commission, 1 member from the police department, 1 member from the fire department and 1 member from the department of public works to coordinate and expedite local permitting of the category 1 facility. In either case, the ombudsman shall not assume the permitting authority of the individual boards, commissions, or departments referred to herein.
Section 17. (a) The commission shall prescribe the form of the application for gaming licenses which shall require, but not be limited to, the following:
(i) the name of the applicant;
(ii) the mailing address and, if a corporation, the name of the state under the laws of which it is incorporated, the location of its principal place of business and the names and addresses of its directors and stockholders;
(iii) the identity of every person having a direct or indirect interest in the business, and the nature of such interest; provided further, that if the disclosed entity is a trust, the application shall disclose the names and addresses of all beneficiaries; provided further, that if a partnership, the names and addresses of all partners, both general and limited; and provided further, that if a limited liability company, the names and addresses of all members;
(iv) an independent audit report of all financial activities and interests including, but not limited to, the disclosure of all contributions, donations, loans or any other financial transactions to or from any gaming entity or operator in the past 5 years;
(v) clear and convincing evidence of financial stability including, but not limited to, bank references, business and personal income and disbursement schedules, tax returns and other reports filed by government agencies, and business and personal accounting check records and ledgers;
(vi) information and documentation to demonstrate that the applicant has sufficient business ability and experience as to establish the likelihood of creation and maintenance of a successful gaming establishment;
(vii) a full description the proposed internal controls and security systems for the proposed gaming establishment and any related facilities;
(viii) whether the applicant is partnering with a federally recognized native American tribe located in the commonwealth for the purposes of the proposed gaming establishment;
(ix) a statement that the applicant will comply, in case such a gaming license is issued, with all applicable laws and with all applicable rules and regulations prescribed by the commission or any other relevant entity;
(x) proof of approval by the host municipality pursuant to section 16;
(xi) acknowledgement that the commission has authorization to conduct warrantless searches of the gaming establishment;
(xii) an agreement that the applicant shall mitigate the potential negative public health consequences associated with gambling and the operation of a gaming establishment including: (1) maintaining a smoke-free environment within the gaming facility pursuant to the provisions of section 22 of chapter 270; (2) providing complimentary on-site space for an independent substance abuse and mental health counseling service to be selected by the commission; (3) prominently displaying information on the signs of problem gambling and how to access assistance; (4) describing a process for individuals to exclude their names and contact information from the licensee’s database or any other list held by the licensee for use in marketing or promotional communications; and (5) instituting other public health strategies as determined by the commission;
(xiii) the designs for the proposed gaming establishment, including the names and addresses of the architects, engineers and designers, and a timeline of construction that includes detailed stages of construction for the gaming facility, nongaming structures, and racecourse, where applicable;
(xiv) a description of the ancillary entertainment services and amenities to be provided at the proposed gaming establishment;
(xv) the number of employees to be employed at the proposed gaming establishment, including detailed information on the pay rate and benefits for employees;
(xvi) completed studies and reports as required by the commission, including reports on the economic benefits of the proposed gaming establishment, the environmental, traffic and local infrastructure impacts, the impact of the proposed gaming establishment to the local and regional economy, the cost to the municipality and the commonwealth for the proposed gaming establishment to be at its proposed location, and the total amount of municipal and state tax revenue to be generated by the applicant; including ancillary revenues generated by employees and vendors;
(b) In addition to the information included in subsection (a), an applicant for a category 1 license shall include the following information:
(i) the location of the proposed category 1 establishment, which shall include the address, maps, book and page numbers from the appropriate registry of deeds, assessed value of the land at the time of application, and ownership interests over the past 20 years including all interests, options, agreements in property, and demographic, geographic, and environmental information, and any other information requested by the authority;
(ii) the types of games and gaming to be conducted at the resort casino, number of tables and slot machines that are proposed to be employed at the casino, and the specific location of gaming at the casino site;
(iii) the number of hotels and rooms and other amenities located at the proposed category 1 establishment as well as how they measure in quality to other area hotels and amenities;
(iv) whether the applicant’s category 1 establishment is part of a regional or local economic plan; and
(v) whether the applicant will be using publicly owned land for the category 1 establishment.
(c) No application for a gaming license shall be considered by the commission unless accompanied by a nonrefundable application fee of $250,000, to defray the costs associated with the processing of the application and investigation of the applicant. If the costs of the investigation exceed the initial application fee, the applicant shall pay the additional amount to the commission within 30 days or the application shall be rejected.
(d) Applications for licenses shall be public records for the purposes of section 10 of chapter 66; provided, however, that information required by the commission that pertains to: (i) confidential finances, earnings, revenue or trade secrets of any applicant; (ii) an applicant’s criminal record or background information; (iii) the suitability of an applicant for a particular endeavor and (iv) information personal in nature submitted by an applicant pursuant to this section shall be deemed confidential, are not public records and shall not be disclosed. Personal information shall include any information concerning: (i) a minor child of an applicant; (ii) the social security number of an applicant or the spouse of an applicant; (iii) the home telephone number or address of an applicant or the spouse or children of an applicant; (iv) the birth certificate of the applicant or information relating to the date or place of birth of an applicant’s spouse; (v) the driver’s license number of an applicant or an applicant’s spouse; (vi) the name or address of a previous spouse of the applicant; (vii) the personal financial information and records of an applicant or the spouse or minor child of an applicant, including tax returns and any and all records of criminal proceedings; (viii) any information concerning a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking; (ix) the personal electronic mail address of an applicant or spouse or family member of the applicant; (x) and any other information deemed necessary by the commission to protect the privacy of an applicant or the applicant’s family. Any information concerning an applicant collected by the commission may be released by the commission to an authorized agent of the state or federal government.
Section 18. (a) Upon receipt of an application for a gaming license, the commission shall commence an investigation into the suitability of an applicant. In evaluating the suitability of an applicant, the commission shall consider the overall reputation of the applicant including, without limitation:
(i) the integrity, honesty, good character and reputation of the applicant;
(ii) the financial stability, integrity, and background of the applicant;
(iii) the business practices and the business ability of an applicant to establish and maintain a successful gaming establishment;
(iv) whether the applicant has a history of compliance with gaming licensing requirements in other jurisdictions;
(v) whether the applicant, at the time of application, is a defendant in litigation involving its business practices;
(vi) the suitability of all parties in interest to the gaming license, including affiliates, close associates and the financial resources of the applicant; and
(vii) whether the applicant is disqualified from receiving a license pursuant to section 13; provided, however, that in considering the rehabilitation of an applicant for a gaming license, the commission shall not automatically disqualify any applicant if the applicant affirmatively demonstrates, by clear and convincing evidence, that the applicant has financial responsibility, character, reputation, integrity and general fitness as such to warrant belief by the commission that the applicant will act honestly, fairly, soundly and efficiently as a gaming licensee.
(b) If the commission determines during its investigation that an applicant has failed to: (i) establish his integrity or the integrity of any affiliate, close associate, financial source or any person required to be qualified by the commission; (ii) demonstrate responsible business practices in any jurisdiction; or (iii) overcome any other reason, as determined by the commission, as to why it would be injurious to the interests of the commonwealth in awarding said applicant a gaming license, the commission shall cease any further review and deny the application pursuant to the procedures in subsection (f).
(c) If the commission has determined an applicant is suitable to receive a gaming license, the commission shall commence a review of the applicant’s entire application. After a review of the entire application and any independent evaluations, the commission shall conduct a public hearing on the application pursuant to section 11 ½ of chapter 30A. An applicant for a gaming license shall be given at least 30 days notice of the public hearing.
(d) The public hearing shall provide the commission the opportunity to address questions and concerns relative to the proposal of a gaming applicant to build a gaming establishment including the breadth and quality of the gaming facility and amenities, the integration of the facility into the surrounding community and the extent of required mitigation plans. During the hearing, the commission may take the opportunity to read into the record any letters of support, opposition or concern from members of the communities in the vicinity of the proposed gaming establishment.
(e) Within 90 days of the conclusion of the public hearing, the commission shall take action on the application. The commission, by majority vote of all commissioners, may: (i) deny the application; (ii) extend the period for issuing a decision in order to obtain any additional information necessary for a complete evaluation of the application; provided, however, that the extension shall be 30 days or less; or (iii) grant the application for a gaming license.
(f) Upon denial of an application, the commission shall prepare and file its order and, if requested by the applicant, shall further prepare and file a statement of the reasons for the denial, including specific findings of fact.
(g) The issuance of a license is discretionary. Applicants have no legal right or privilege to a gaming license and are not entitled to any further review if denied.
Section 19. In determining whether an applicant should receive a gaming license, the commission shall [A] evaluate and issue a statement of findings of how each applicant proposes to advance the following objectives: (1) protecting the lottery from any adverse impacts due to expanded gaming, including, but not limited to, developing cross-marketing strategies with the lottery and increasing ticket sales to out-of-state residents; (2) promoting local businesses in host and surrounding communities, including developing cross-marketing strategies with local restaurants, hotels, retail outlets and performing arts organizations; (3) implementing a workforce development plan to utilize the existing labor force in the commonwealth, including the estimated number of construction jobs a proposed gaming establishment will generate, the development of workforce training programs that serve the unemployed, and methods for accessing employment at the gaming establishment; (4) building a gaming establishment of high caliber with a variety of quality amenities to be included as part of the gaming establishment and operated in partnership with any local hotels, dining, retail and entertainment facilities so that patrons experience the diversified regional tourism industry; (5) taking additional measures to address problem gambling, including, but not limited to, training of gaming employee to identify patrons exhibiting problems with gambling and prevention programs targeted toward vulnerable populations; (6) providing a market analysis detailing the benefits of the site location of the gaming establishment and the estimated recapture rate of gaming-related spending by residents travelling to out-of-state gaming establishments; (7) utilizing sustainable development principles, including, but not limited to: (i) being certified or capable of being certified as gold or higher pursuant to the U.S. Green Building Council Neighborhood Development Rating System, the green building rating system established by the Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design, gold or higher pursuant to the National Green Building Standard, a Three Globe rating or higher pursuant to the Green Globes rating system, or an alternative rating system approved by the executive office of energy and environmental affairs; (ii) meeting United States Environmental Protection Agency efficiency standards for the electrical equipment and appliances used by the resort casino; and (iii) procuring 10 per cent of its annual electricity consumption from renewable sources identified by the division of energy resources pursuant to section 11F of chapter 25A; (8) establishing, funding, and maintaining human resource hiring and training practices that promote the development of a skilled and diverse workforce and access to promotion opportunities through a workforce training program that: (i) establishes transparent career paths with measurable criteria within the gaming establishment that lead to increased responsibility and higher pay grades that are designed to allow employees to pursue career advancement and promotion; (ii) provides employee access to additional resources, such as tuition reimbursement or stipend policies, to enable employees to acquire the education or job training needed to advance career paths based on increased responsibility and pay grades; and (iii) establishes an on-site child day care program; and (9) contracting with local business owners for the provision of services and goods to the gaming establishment, including developing plans designed to assist businesses in the commonwealth in identifying the needs for goods and services to the establishment; (10) purchasing, whenever possible, domestically manufactured slot machines for installation in the gaming establishment.
Section 20. (a) The commission may issue 2 category 1 licenses; provided, however, that the category 1 licenses shall only be issued to applicants who are qualified under the criteria set forth in this chapter as determined by the commission. In evaluating the location of the category 1 facilities, the commission shall take into consideration their proximity to each other and how that may impact the policy goals established pursuant to section 1.
(b) No other gaming license, or authorization to increase the gaming positions in a category 2 or category 3 license, shall be issued by the commonwealth for a period of 15 years; provided, however, that such exclusivity shall not include the interests of the commonwealth in compacting with any federally recognized Native American tribe for gaming rights in the commonwealth.
(c) No category 1 licensee shall transfer a license or any direct or indirect interest in the license or licensed premises without the majority approval of the commission. Any person seeking to acquire a license through a transfer shall satisfy the requirement for licensure pursuant to this chapter. The commission shall reject any license transfer or transfer of interest to an unsuitable person and may reject a proposed transfer that, in the opinion of the commission, would be disadvantageous to the interests of the commonwealth in the gaming establishment.
(d) The commission may issue 2 category 2 licenses; provided, however, that the commission shall issue 1 category 2 license to a qualified harness horse racing facility and 1 category 2 license to a qualified thoroughbred horse racing facility. A category 2 license issued shall be contingent upon the licensee’s completion of the annual live racing season pursuant to chapter 128A. An applicant who is eligible for a category 2 license pursuant to this section may apply for a category 1 license; provided, however, that upon receipt of a category1 license said applicant shall continue to conduct live racing and abide by all the live racing terms pursuant to section 23 and shall continue to pay the applicable live racing tax required of category 2 licensees.
(e) The commission may issue 2 category 3 licenses; provided, however, that the commission shall issue each category 3 license to a qualified greyhound racing facility. Any category 3 license issued shall be contingent upon the licensee’s simulcasting of live thoroughbred, harness or greyhound races pursuant to chapter 128A. An applicant who is eligible for a category 3 license pursuant to this section may apply for a category 1 license.
A category 3 licensee shall maintain a simulcasting license pursuant to chapter 128C. Upon failure to conduct simulcast wagering the commission shall suspend the category 3 license.
(f) A category 2 license and a category 3 license issued pursuant to this chapter shall not be transferrable or assignable without the approval of the commission; provided, however, that for 5 years after the initial issuance of a category 2 or category 3 license the commission shall only approve such a transfer if: (i) the licensee experiences a change in ownership; or (ii) the licensee fails to maintain suitability or other circumstances which the commission may consider, which, in the opinion of a majority of members of the commission, impact a licensees’ ability to successfully operate a gaming establishment.(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, and upon approval by the commission, a category 3 licensee may merge its license with a category 2 licensee and locate the total number of slot machines allotted to each licensee at a thoroughbred or harness racing track. A category 2 licensee may not merge with more than 1 category 3 licensee.
An applicant for a category 2 license shall apply for a merged license with an eligible applicant for a category 3 license in their initial application to the commission. The commission shall approve any merger agreement and shall require parties to the merger to be qualified for licensure pursuant to the criteria set forth in sections 13 and 19.
(h) A category 1 license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be for a period of 15 years from the date of first issuance; provided, however, that 5 years after issuance, and every 5 years thereafter, the commission shall perform a thorough review of the business strategy of the resort casino which shall include plans for expansion and marketing submitted by the licensee. The commission shall establish procedures for renewal and set the renewal fee based on the cost of fees associated with the evaluation of a licensee requesting a renewed category 1 license.
A category 2 and category 3 license issued pursuant to this chapter shall be for a period of 5 years. The commission shall establish procedures for renewal and set the renewal fee based on the cost of fees associated with the evaluation of a licensee; provided, however, that the cost of renewal shall not be less than $100,000. A category 1, category 2, or category 3 licensee shall issue an annual report to the commission explicitly stating its progress on meeting each of the stated goals and stipulations put forth in the licensee’s original application. Inability to meet stated goals within a reasonable time frame, as determined by the commission, shall result in additional fees as deemed fair and reasonable by the commission. Failure to meet stated goals may also result in revocation of the license at any time by the commission.
Nothing in this section shall preclude the commission at any time from reviewing the business operations of any gaming licensee to ensure that the conditions of licensure are being met, including, but not limited to, the suitability of the licensee and any affiliates and the fiscal stability of the gaming establishment.
(i)_The commission shall have the power to condition, suspend or revoke any gaming license upon a finding that a licensee: (i) has committed a criminal or civil offense under this chapter or any other laws of the commonwealth; (ii) is not in compliance with gaming regulations or is under criminal investigation in another jurisdiction; (iii) has breached a condition of licensure; (iv) has affiliates, close associates or employees that are not qualified or licensed pursuant to this chapter with whom the gaming licensee continues to conduct business or employ; (v) is no longer capable of maintaining operations at a gaming establishment; or (vi) whose business practice, upon a determination by the commission, is injurious to the policy objectives of this chapter.
(j) Whenever any person contracts to transfer any property relating to an ongoing gaming operation, including a security holding in a gaming licensee or holding or intermediary company, under circumstances which require that the transferee obtain licensure under this chapter, the contract shall not specify a closing or settlement date which is earlier than the 121st day after the submission of a completed application for licensure or qualification, which application shall include a fully executed and approved trust agreement.
The commission shall hold a hearing and render a decision on the interim authorization of the applicant. If the commission grants interim authorization, then the closing or settlement may occur without interruption of casino operations. If the commission denies interim authorization, there shall be no closing or settlement until the commission makes a determination on the qualification of the applicant, and if the commission then denies qualification the contract shall thereby be terminated for all purposes without liability on the part of the transferor.
The commission shall promulgate further regulations for interim authorization of a gaming establishment.
(k) No person or affiliate shall be awarded, purchase or otherwise hold or have a financial interest in more than 1 license issued by the commission.
(l) The commission shall take into consideration the physical distance in selecting the two resort casinos as they relate to each other and how they maximize benefits to the commonwealth.
Section 21. (a) Applicants for a category 1 license shall invest not less than $500,000,000 into the resort casino which shall include the gaming facility, at least 1 hotel, and other amenities as proposed in the application for a category 1 license. Upon award of a category 1 license by the commission, the applicant shall be required to deposit 10 per cent of the total investment proposed in the application into an interest-bearing account. Monies received from the applicant shall be held in escrow until the final stage of construction, as approved by the commission, at which time the deposit shall be returned to the applicant to be applied for such final stage. Should the applicant be unable to complete the resort casino, the deposit shall be forfeited to the commonwealth. In place of a cash deposit, the commission may allow for an applicant to secure a deposit bond insuring that 10 per cent of the proposed capital investment shall be forfeited to the commonwealth.
(b) Applicants for a category 1 license shall submit their proposed capital investment with their application to the commission which shall include stages of construction of the resort casino and the deadline by which construction and any infrastructure improvements will be completed. In awarding a category 1 license, the commission shall determine at what stage of construction a licensee shall be approved to open for business; provided, however, that a licensee shall not be permitted to open for business until the commission has determined that at least the gaming facility and hotel have been built and are of a superior quality as set forth in the conditions of licensure; provided, further, that total infrastructure improvements onsite and around the vicinity of the resort casino, including projects to account for traffic mitigation, shall be completed before the resort casino shall be approved for opening by the commission.
(c) A category 1 licensee shall pay to the commission a fee of $100,000,000 within 30 days of the final award of the license which sets forth the conditions to be satisfied by the licensee before the gaming facility may be opened to the public. The commission shall set any renewal fee for such license based on the cost of fees associated with the evaluation of a category 1 licensee pursuant to section 20 of this chapter, and such renewal fee will be exclusive of any subsequent license fees under this section.(d) The commission shall determine the sources and total amount of an applicant's proposed capitalization to develop, construct, maintainand operate a proposed gaming establishment under this chapter. Upon award of a gaming license, the commission shall continue to assess the capitalization of a licensee for the duration of construction of the proposed gaming establishment and the term of the license.
Section 22. (a) Applicants for a category 2 or category 3 license shall invest not less than $75,000,000 into the gaming facility and racecourse, if applicable.
The investment required under this section shall be made within 2 years of receiving a gaming license; provided, however, that any infrastructure improvements necessary to increase visitor capacity and account for traffic mitigation, as determined by the commission, shall be completed before the category 2 or category 3 licensee shall be authorized to operate any slot machine at the gaming facility.
(b) The required licensing fee for a category 2 or category 3 license shall be not less than $15,000,000. The commission shall raise the license fee if an applicant for a category 2 or category 3 license cannot demonstrate to the satisfaction of the commission that the applicant will advance any of the objectives set forth in section 19.
(c) If the commission approves the merger of a category 2 and category 3 licensee pursuant to section 20 and grants a merged license, the applicants shall pay $30,000,000 and shall agree to invest $150,000,000 into the gaming facility and racecourse.
(d) The commission shall determine the sources and total amount of an applicant's proposed capitalization to develop, construct, maintain and operate a proposed gaming establishment under this chapter. Upon award of a gaming license, the commission shall continue to assess the capitalization of a licensee for the duration of construction of the proposed gaming establishment and the term of the license.
Section 23. (a) An applicant for a category 2 licensee shall maintain any racing facility on the premises; provided, however, that said licensee shall increase the number of live racing days to a minimum of 125 days according to the following schedule:
(i) in the first calendar year of operation a licensee shall hold 105 racing days;
(ii) in the second calendar year of operation a licensee shall hold 115 racing days; and
(iii) in the third calendar year of operation a licensee shall hold 125 racing days.
(b) A category 2 licensee may increase the number of live racing days if said licensee is holding a minimum of 125 racing days within 3 years of receiving a category 2 license. If a category 2 licensee does not conduct live racing for the minimum number of days set forth in subsection (a), the commission shall suspend the category 2 license.
(c) After 3 years of operation, and in consultation with the parties to the purse agreement, the commission may adjust the amount of required racing days at a category 2 facility based on fields, demand and racing performance.
(d) A category 2 licensee shall have an annual purse agreement in effect by December thirty-first of each year for the following year’s racing; provided, however, that if the parties to a purse agreement at a category 2 facility cannot in good faith negotiate an agreement by December thirty-first, the purse agreement shall be arbitrated by the commission.
Section 24. (a) No person shall be employed by a gaming licensee unless such person has been licensed by or registered with the commission.
(b) Any person seeking a valid key gaming employee license or a gaming employee license shall file an application with the commission. Such application shall be on a form prescribed by the commission and shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (1) the name of the applicant; (2) the address of the applicant; (3) a detailed employment history of the applicant; (4) fingerprints; (5) a criminal and arrest record; and (6) any civil judgments obtained against the person pertaining to antitrust or security regulation. Each applicant shall be a resident of the commonwealth prior to the issuance of a gaming employee license, provided, however, that the commission may waive this requirement upon certification from the gaming licensee that an applicant’s particular position will require the applicant to be reside outside of the commonwealth. The commission may require such other information as it deems appropriate including, without limitation, information related to the financial integrity of the applicant and may require the applicant to submit other documentation it deems appropriate including, without limitation, bank accounts and records, bank references, business and personal income and disbursement schedules, tax returns and other reports filed by government agencies, and business and personal accounting check records and ledgers.
(c) All other employees in a gaming establishment who are not considered to be gaming employees, key gaming employees, or who have restricted access to an area of the gaming establishment or knowledge of security procedures, shall be required to register with the commission as a gaming service employee and shall produce such information as the commission may require to become registered under this chapter.
(d) Upon receipt of an application for a key gaming employee license and a gaming employee license the commission shall conduct an investigation of each applicant which shall include obtaining criminal offender record information from the criminal history systems board as well as exchanging fingerprint data and criminal history with the state police and the federal bureau of investigation.
(e) Upon petition by a gaming licensee, the commission may issue a temporary license to an applicant for a gaming key employee license or a gaming employee license provided that: (i) the applicant for a gaming key employee license or gaming employee license has filed a complete application with the commission; and (ii) the gaming licensee certifies, and the commission finds, that the issuance of a temporary license is necessary for the operation of the gaming facility and is not designed to circumvent the normal licensing procedures.
Unless otherwise stated by the commission, a temporary license issued pursuant to this section shall expire 6 months from the date of its issuance and may be renewed, at the discretion of the commission, for an additional 6 month period.
(f) The commission may deny any application for a key gaming employee or gaming employee license or the registration of any other employee of a gaming establishment if the commission finds that any applicant or registrant is disqualified pursuant to section 14 or may be unsuitable for licensure under any of the criteria set forth in section 19; provided, however, that the commission, in its discretion, may issue a license to an applicant for a gaming employee license or register a gaming service employee who has a prior conviction if said applicant or registrant can affirmatively demonstrate his rehabilitation. In considering the rehabilitation of an applicant for a license under this section, the commission shall consider the following: (i) the nature and duties of the position of the applicant; (ii) the nature and seriousness of the offense or conduct; (iii) the circumstances under which the offense or conduct occurred; (iv) the date of the offense or conduct; (v) the age of the applicant when the offense or conduct was committed; (vi) whether the offense or conduct was an isolated or repeated incident; (vii) any social conditions which may have contributed to the offense or conduct; and (viii) any evidence of rehabilitation, including recommendations and references of persons supervising the applicant since the offense or conduct was committed.
Any orders denying an application under this section shall be accompanied with an explanation of why an applicant did not meet the qualifications for licensure under this chapter.
(g) The commission shall be authorized to condition, suspend or revoke any license or registration under this section if the commission finds that a licensee or registrant has: (i) been arrested or convicted of a crime while employed by a gaming establishment and failed to report charges or the conviction to the commission; (ii) failed to comply with the provisions of section 12; or (iii) failed to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter pertaining to licensees.
(h) A license or registration issued pursuant to this section shall be issued for a term of 3 years. It shall be the responsibility of the employee to ensure that their license is current.
(i) The commission shall establish fees for a key gaming employee and a gaming employee license which shall include costs incurred for conducting a background investigation into an applicant said license.
Section 25. (a) No person or business shall conduct any business with a gaming licensee unless such person has been licensed by or registered with the commission.
(b) Any person seeking a gaming vendor license shall file an application with the commission. Such application shall be on a form prescribed by the commission and shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (i) the name of the applicant; (ii) the post office address and if a corporation, the name of the state under the laws of which it is incorporated, the location of its principal place of business and the names and addresses of its directors and stockholders; (iii) a criminal and arrest record; (iv) any civil judgments obtained against the person pertaining to antitrust or security regulation; (v) the identity of every person having a direct or indirect interest in the business, and the nature of such interest; provided further, that if the disclosed entity is a trust, the application shall disclose the names and addresses of all beneficiaries; provided further, that if the disclosed entity is a partnership, the names and addresses of all partners, both general and limited; and provided further, that if the disclosed entity is a limited liability company, the names and addresses of all members; (vi) an independent audit report of all financial activities and interests including, but not limited to, the disclosure of all contributions, donations, loans or any other financial transactions to or from any gaming entity or operator in the past 5 years; and (vii) clear and convincing evidence of financial stability including, but not limited to, bank references, business and personal income and disbursement schedules, tax returns and other reports filed by government agencies, and business and personal accounting check records and ledgers. The commission may require such other information as it deems appropriate including, without limitation, information related to the financial integrity of the applicant and may require the applicant to submit other documentation it deems appropriate including, without limitation, bank accounts and records, bank references, business and personal income and disbursement schedules, tax returns and other reports filed by government agencies, and business and personal accounting check records and ledgers.
(c) No person shall manufacture, sell, distribute, test or repair slot machines, other than antique slot machines as defined in section 5A of chapter 271, without a valid gaming vendor license issued by the commission
(d) All other suppliers or vendors who are not considered to be gaming vendors including, but not limited to, construction companies, vending machine providers, linen suppliers, garbage handlers, maintenance companies, limousine services, food purveyors or suppliers of alcoholic beverages, shall be considered non-gaming vendors and shall be required to register with the commission and shall produce such information as the commission may require; provided, however, that the commission may require any vendor regularly conducting over $250,000 of business with a gaming licensee within a 12 month period, or $100,000 of business within a 3 year period, to be licensed as a gaming vendor.
(e) Any person owning more than 5 per cent of the common stock of a company required to be licensed as a gaming vendor, or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of such company, shall be required to file for licensure. The commission may waive the licensing requirements for institutional investors holding up to 15 per cent of the stock of the company, or holding, intermediary or subsidiary company of the such company, upon a showing by the person seeking the waiver that the applicant purchased the securities for investment purposes only and does not have any intention to influence or affect the affairs or operations of the company or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of the such company. Any institutional investor granted a waiver which subsequently determines to influence or affect the affairs or operations of the gaming vendor, or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of the gaming vendor, shall provide not less than 30 days notice to the commission of such intent and shall file an application and be subject to the licensing requirements of this chapter before taking any action that may influence or affect the affairs of the applicant company or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of the applicant company. Any company holding over 15 per cent of a gaming vendor, or a holding, intermediary or subsidiary of a gaming vendor, shall be deemed to be a qualifier and shall file an application form with the commission and be subject to the licensing requirements of this chapter.
(f) If an applicant for a gaming vendor license or vendor or supplier registration is licensed or registered in another jurisdiction within the United States and is in good standing in all the jurisdictions in which it holds a license or registration, the commission may enter into a reciprocal agreement with the applicant and to allow for an abbreviated licensing or registration process and issue a gaming vendor license or registration pursuant to this section, provided, however, that the commission shall reserve its rights to investigate the qualifications of an applicant at any time and may require the applicant to submit to a full application for a gaming vendor license or provide further information for registration.
(g) The commission shall deny any application for a gaming vendor license or the registration of any other vendor or supplier if the commission finds that any applicant or registrant is disqualified pursuant to section 14 or may be unsuitable for licensure under any of the criteria set forth in section 19.
(h) The commission shall be authorized to condition, suspend or revoke any license or registration under this section if the commission finds that a licensee or registrant has: (i) been arrested or convicted of a crime; (ii) failed to comply with the provisions of section 12; or (iii) failed to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter pertaining to licensees.
(i) The commission shall establish a master vendor list to monitor all vendor contracts with a gaming establishment. Any vendor doing business with a gaming establishment who has failed to submit an application for licensure or registration shall be prohibited from engaging in any future business with any gaming establishment; provided further that the commission shall be authorized to terminate any contracts that have been entered into with an unlicensed or unregistered vendor.
(j) Gaming licensees shall have a continuing duty to inform the commission of all vendor contracts.
(k) A license or registration issued pursuant to this section shall be issued for a term of 3 years. It shall be the responsibility of the employee to ensure that their license is current.
(l) The commission shall establish fees for gaming vendor licenses which shall include costs incurred for conducting a background investigation into an applicant for said license.
Section 26. (a) Each labor organization, union or affiliate seeking to represent employees who are employed at a gaming establishment, including any related facilities, shall register with the commission.
(b) Neither a labor organization, nor its officers who are not otherwise licensed or registered under this chapter, may hold any financial interest in a gaming establishment whose employees they represent.
Section 27. (a) No category 1, category 2 or category 3 licensee shall conduct gaming without an operations certificate issued by the commission. An operations certificate shall only be issued upon compliance with the requirements of this chapter including; (1) implementation of all management controls required by the commission including, without limitation, controls on accounting, wagering and auditing; (2) implementation of all security precautions required by the commission; (3) an up to date listing of all gaming employees; (4) licensing of all gaming employees; (5) the provision of office space at the facility for use by the commission employees; (6) the hours of operation of the facility; and that its personnel and procedures are efficient and prepared to entertain the public.
The operations certificate shall be conspicuously posted and shall state the number of slot machines, table games or other authorized games, if applicable.
(b) A category 1, category 2, or category 3 licensee may operate a gaming establishment from 6:00 am to 5:59 am; provided, however, that said licensee registers their hours of operation with the commission.
(c) Each gaming licensee shall arrange its gaming facility in such a manner as to promote optimum security for the gaming facility operations , including but not limited to: (1) a closed circuit television system according to specifications approved by the commission, with access on the licensed premises to the system or its signal provided to the commission; (2) one or more rooms or locations approved by the commission for use by commission employees; and (3) design specifications that insure that visibility in a facility is not obstructed in any way that might interfere with the ability of the commission or the division to supervise facility operations.
(d) Each applicant for a gaming license shall submit to the commission a description of its minimum system of internal procedures and administrative and accounting controls for gaming and any simulcast wagering operations accompanied by a certification by its chief legal officer that the submitted procedures conform to the provisions of this chapter and any regulations promulgated thereunder as well as a certification by its chief financial officer that the submitted procedures provide adequate and effective controls, establish a consistent overall system of internal procedures and administrative and accounting controls and conform to generally accepted accounting principles and any additional standards required by the commission. Each applicant shall make its submission at least 30 business days before such operations are to commence unless otherwise directed by the commission; provided, however, that no gaming licensee shall commence gaming operations or alter its minimum internal controls until such system of minimum controls is approved by the commission. The commission shall establish regulations for the information required in said internal control submission.
Any proposed changes to a gaming licensee’s system of internal procedures and controls shall be submitted to the commission along with 2 new certifications from its chief legal and financial officers. Pending no objections from the commission, the gaming licensee may make said changes 15 business days after submitting a description of the changes to the commission.
(e) Gaming equipment shall not be possessed, maintained or exhibited by any person on the premises of a gaming establishment except in a gaming area approved by the commission or in a restricted area used for the inspection, repair or storage of such equipment and specifically designated for that purpose.
(f) Each gaming facility shall contain a count room and such other secure facilities as may be required by the commission for the counting and storage of cash, coins, tokens, checks, plaques, gaming vouchers, coupons and other devices or items of value used in wagering and approved by the commission that are received in the conduct of gaming and for the inspection, counting and storage of dice, cards, chips and other representatives of value.
(g) A dealer may accept tips or gratuities from a patron at the table game where such dealer is conducting play; provided, however, that such tips or gratuities shall be placed in a pool for distribution among other dealers. The commission shall determine how tips and gratuities shall be set aside for the dealer pool as well as the manner of distribution among dealers.
(h) No person under the age of 21 shall be permitted to wager or be in an area of a facility where gaming is conducted; provided, however, that a person 18 years or over of age who is a licensed employee of the gaming operation may be in an area of a facility where gaming is conducted if in the performance of the duties he is licensed to undertake.
(i) No category 1, category 2 or category 3 licensee shall operate unless the facility manager or his designee is on the premises and representatives of the commission are present at the facility; provided, further that the commission may allow a gaming licensee to conduct gaming operations for a period not to exceed 48 hours pursuant to a duly filed emergency operations plan previously filed with, and approved by, the commission that addresses the internal procedures to be followed during such an emergency to ensure that the gaming licensee and its employees comply with all pertinent statutes and regulations.
(j) Each gaming establishment shall file an emergency response plan with the fire department and police department of the host community which shall include without limitation: (1) a layout identifying all areas within the facility and grounds including support systems and the internal and external access routes; (2) the location and inventory of emergency response equipment and the contact information of the emergency response coordinator for the facility; (3) the location of any hazardous substances as well as a description of any public health or safety hazards present on site; (4) a description of any special equipment needed to respond to an emergency at the facility; (5) an evacuation plan; and (6) any other information relating to emergency response as requested by the fire department or the police department of the host community.
Section 28. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, an applicant for a category 1 license may request with their gaming license application, and the commission may grant, a resort casino beverage license for the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises of a resort casino including any associated hotel and individual rooms and mini-bars at such hotels. No alcoholic beverages shall be sold or distributed on the premises of a gaming establishment without such a license. The authority to enforce, regulate and control the distribution of alcoholic beverages in the resort casino shall be exclusively vested in the commission.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, or by regulations promulgated by the commission, the provisions of chapter 138 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the alcoholic beverages control commission shall apply to a resort casino and a resort casino beverage license.
(c) Issuance fees for the casino beverage license shall be included with the gaming application fee. If a category 1 licensee does not apply for a casino beverage license at the time of application, said licensee shall be subject to an additional licensing fee determined by the commission.
(d) A licensee under this section shall be permitted to distribute alcohol free of charge and for on-premise consumption to patrons on the casino floor or as a complimentary service or item in the gaming establishment; provided, however, that the commission shall promulgate regulations on such distribution as well as the forms of identification that may be presented to the licensee to demonstrate proof that a person has attained the age of 21.
(e) A licensee under this section shall be permitted to sell alcohol daily after 8 antemeridian and before 2 antemeridian.
(f) The request submitted to the commission for a resort casino beverage license by an applicant or licensee for a category 1 license shall detail all areas where alcoholic beverages will be served within the resort casino. In issuing said license, the commission shall describe the scope of the particular license and any restrictions and limitations.
(g) A category 1 licensee shall be responsible for any violations of their casino beverages license in the gaming establishment. The commission may revoke, suspend, refuse to renew or refuse to transfer any resort casino beverage license for violations of any provision of chapter 138, regulations promulgated by the alcoholic beverages control commission and the regulations promulgated by the commission. If, at any time, a licensee elects temporary suspension of their category 1 license due to violations of this section, said licensee shall owe the commonwealth the average tax on gross gaming revenue based on an appropriate period of time as determined by the commission for the number of days operation was suspended.
(h) A resort casino beverage license shall be nontransferable without prior approval from the commission. If the license granted under this act is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use, it shall be returned physically, with all the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining thereto, to the commission and the commission may then grant the license to a new gaming licensee under the same conditions as specified in this section.
(i) A license granted under this section shall not decrease the number of such licenses authorized to be granted to the host community under the provisions of chapter 138.
Section 29. (a) A gaming licensee shall be permitted to issue credit to a patron of a gaming establishment in accordance with regulations promulgated by the commission. Such regulations shall include, but not be limited to: (i) procedures for confirming that a patron has an established credit history and is in good standing; (ii) whether the patron has a good credit history with the gaming establishment; (iii) authorization of any credit instrument; (iv) methods for acknowledging a credit instrument and payment of debt; and (v) information to be provided by the patron to the gaming establishment to be shared with the commission for auditing purposes.
(b) Except as otherwise authorized by the commission through regulations pursuant to this chapter, no facility , nor any person acting on behalf of said facility shall: (1) cash any check, make any loan, or otherwise provide or allow to any person any credit or advance of anything of value, or which represents value, to enable any person to place a wager; or (2) release or discharge any debt, either in whole or in part, or make any loan which represents any losses incurred by any player in gaming or simulcast wagering activity, without maintaining a written record thereof in accordance with the rules of the commission. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a facility from accepting credit cards for non-gaming related purchases or services.
(c) Checks cashed in conformity with the requirements of this chapter shall be valid instruments enforceable under the laws of the commonwealth. Any check cashed, transferred, conveyed or given in violation of this chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder shall be invalid and unenforceable.
(d) The commission shall establish, by regulation, procedures and standards for approving promotional gaming credits, provided that no such credit shall be reported as a promotional gaming credit by an operator of a licensed gaming establishment unless the operator can establish that the credit was issued by the gaming establishment and received from a patron as a wager at a slot machine in the gaming establishment, provided further that such promotional gaming credit shall not be taxable for the purposes of determining gross revenue.
(e) No other person or entity, other than a gaming licensee licensed pursuant to this chapter, shall issue credit to a patron of a gaming establishment.
(f) A person may petition the commission to place his name on a list of persons to whom the extension of credit by a gaming establishment shall be prohibited. Any person filing such petition shall submit to the commission the person's name, address, and date of birth. The person shall not be required to provide a reason for said request. The commission shall provide this list to the credit department of each gaming establishment; provided, however, that neither the commission nor the credit department of a gaming establishment shall divulge the names on this list to any person or entity other than those provided for in this subsection. If such a person wishes to have their name removed from the list, the person shall petition the commission in accordance with procedures for removal set forth by the commission. If the commission approves the request, the commission shall so inform the credit department of the gaming establishments no later than 7 days after approving the request.
(g) Debt collections pursuant to this section and regulations promulgated thereunder shall be limited to gaming key employees or attorneys acting directly on behalf of gaming licensees; provided further that a gaming key employee shall be prohibited from making any such collections if they serve as a junket representative for the gaming licensee.
Section 30. (a) No junkets may be organized or permitted and no person may act as a junket representative or junket enterprise except as authorized by the commission pursuant to this chapter.
(b) A junket representative employed by a gaming licensee or affiliate of said licensee shall be licensed as a gaming employee in accordance with the provisions set forth in section 25, including provisions for the issuance of a temporary license; provided, however that said licensee need not be a resident of the commonwealth. Any person who holds a valid gaming employee license may act as a junket representative while employed by a gaming license or an affiliate. No gaming licensee shall employ or otherwise engage a junket representative who is not licensed pursuant to this chapter.
(c) The commission shall deny an application for a license under this section if the commission finds that an applicant is disqualified pursuant to section 14 or may be unsuitable for licensure under any of the criteria set forth in section 19.
(d) Each gaming licensee, junket representative or junket enterprise shall file a report with the bureau with respect to each list of junket patrons or potential junket patrons purchased directly or indirectly by the gaming licensee, junket representative or enterprise.
(e) No junket enterprise or junket representative or person acting as a junket representative shall: (i) engage in efforts to collect upon checks that have been returned by banks without full and final payment; (ii) exercise approval authority with regard to the authorization or issuance of credit pursuant to this chapter; (iii) act on behalf of or under any arrangement with a gaming licensee or a gaming patron with regard to the redemption, consolidation, or substitution of the gaming patron’s checks awaiting deposit; (iv) individually receive or retain any fee from a patron for the privilege of participating in a junket; or (v) pay for any services, including transportation, or other items of value provided to, or for the benefit of, any patron participating in a junket.
(f) The commission shall promulgate further regulations concerning the conduct of junkets and conditions of junket agreements between gaming licensees and junket representatives.
Section 31. (a) No gaming licensee shall offer to provide any complimentary services, gifts, cash or other items of value to any person unless the complimentary consists of room, food, beverage, transportation, or entertainment expenses provided directly to the patron and his guests by the licensee or indirectly to the patron and his guests on behalf of a third party, or the complimentary consists of coins, tokens, cash or other complimentary items or services provided through a complimentary distribution program which shall be filed and approved by the commission upon the implementation of the program or maintained pursuant to regulation.
(b) A gaming licensee may offer and provide complimentary cash or noncash gifts which are not otherwise included in subsection (a) to any person, provided that any such gifts in excess of $2,000 are documented by the licensee and detail the reasons why such gifts were provided to the patron.
(c) Each gaming licensee shall maintain a regulated complimentary service account for those complimentaries which are permitted under this section, and shall submit a quarterly report to the commission based upon such account and covering all complimentary services offered or engaged in by the licensee during the immediately preceding quarter. Such reports shall include identification of the regulated complimentary service and their respective costs, the number of persons by category of service who received the same and such other information as the commission may require.
(d)The furnishing of a complimentary service or item by a casino licensee shall be deemed to constitute the indirect payment for the service or item by the casino licensee, and shall be valued in an amount based upon the retail price normally charged by the casino licensee for the service or item. The value of a complimentary service or item not normally offered for sale by a casino licensee or provided by a third party on behalf of a casino licensee shall be the cost to the casino licensee of providing the service or item, as determined in accordance with the rules of the commission.
Section 32. (a) Upon revocation or suspension of a gaming license pursuant to section 20, or upon the failure or refusal to renew a gaming license the commission may appoint a conservator to temporarily manage and operate the business of the licensee relating to the gaming establishment. Such conservator shall be a person of similar experience in the field of gaming management and, in the case of replacing a gaming licensee, shall have experience operating a gaming facility of similar caliber in another jurisdiction, and shall be in good standing in all jurisdictions in which they operate any gaming facility.
Upon appointment, a conservator shall agree to all licensing provisions of the former licensee.
(b) A conservator shall, before assuming his duties, execute and file a bond for the faithful performance of his duties payable to the commission with such surety and in such form and amount as the commission shall approve.
(c) The commission shall require that the former or suspended licensee purchase liability insurance, in an amount determined by the commission, to protect a conservator from liability for any acts or omissions of the conservator during his appointment which are reasonably related to, and within the scope of the conservator’s duties.
(d) During the period of temporary management of the resort casino, the commission shall initiate proceedings pursuant to this chapter to award a new gaming license to a qualified applicant whose gaming facility shall be located at the site of the preexisting gaming facility.
(e) Applicants for a new gaming license shall be qualified for licensure pursuant to this chapter; provided, however, that the commission shall determine an appropriate level of investment by an applicant into the preexisting gaming facility.
(f) Upon award of a gaming license, applicants shall pay the licensing fee for a category 1, category 2 or category 3 license.
Section 33. (a) There shall be within the commission an investigations and enforcement bureau, which shall be the primary enforcement agent for regulatory matters under this chapter and shall perform such functions as the executive director may determine in relation to such enforcement including the investigations of all licensees under this chapter..The bureau shall be under the supervision and control of the deputy director. The deputy director shall be the executive and administrative head of the bureau and shall be responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of law relative to the bureau and to each administrative unit thereof. The duties given to the deputy director in this chapter and in any other general or special law shall be exercised and discharged subject to the direction, control and supervision of the executive director.
(b) The bureau shall be a law enforcement agency and its employees shall have such law enforcement powers as to effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including the power to receive intelligence on any applicant or licensee under this chapter and to investigate any suspected violation of the provisions of this chapter.
(c) Officers and employees of the gaming enforcement unit of the state police assigned to the commission pursuant to section 70 of chapter 22C shall work with employees of the bureau, under the direction of the deputy director, to investigate violations of this chapter by any licensee under this chapter or any activity taking place on the premises of a gaming establishment. Officers assigned to work with the commission shall record their time and submit total hours to the commission. The commission shall reimburse the state police through monies appropriated from the gaming control fund pursuant to section 8.
(d) The bureau shall notify the division of gaming enforcement in the office of the attorney general of any criminal violations by a gaming licensee. The bureau and the division shall cooperate on the regulatory and criminal enforcement of this chapter and may determine whether to proceed with civil or criminal sanctions, or both against said licensee.
(e) To further effectuate the purposes of this chapter with respect to the investigation and enforcement of licensed gaming establishments and licensees, the bureau may obtain or provide pertinent information regarding applicants or licensees from or to law enforcement entities or gaming authorities and other domestic, federal or foreign jurisdictions, including the federal bureau of investigation, and may transmit such information to each other electronically.
(f) The bureau, the division and the gaming enforcement unit of the department of state police shall have exclusive enforcement of any criminal violation that occurs inside a licensed gaming facility under this chapter; provided, however, that the state police shall execute a memorandum of understanding with the law enforcement agency of the host community that shall include, but not be limited to, procedures involving: (i) first responder calls from the gaming establishment; (ii) emergencies occurring within the gaming establishment, including the gaming facility; and (iii) criminal investigations involving employees or patrons of the gaming establishment; provided further that the bureau of investigations and enforcement shall have the authority to restrict areas in the gaming establishment with direct access to the gaming facility.
Section 34. (a) The bureau shall have the authority to issue orders requiring persons to cease any activity which is in violation of the provisions of this chapter, any regulation adopted hereunder, or any law related to gaming in the commonwealth. The commission or bureau may, in its order, require compliance with such terms and conditions as are reasonably necessary to effect the purposes of this chapter.
(b) If the bureau finds, in accordance with the procedures established in section 35 and the regulations adopted thereunder, that any person is not in compliance with any order issued pursuant to this section, it shall assess a civil administrative penalty on such person as provided in said section 35 and the regulations adopted thereunder. The penalty may be assessed whether or not the violation was willful. In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the bureau shall consider: (i) the nature of the violation; (ii) the length of time the violation occurred; (iii) the risk to the public and to the integrity of gaming operations created by the conduct of the licensee or registrant; (iv) the seriousness of the conduct of the licensee or registrant; (v) any justification or excuse for such conduct by the licensee or registrant; (vi) the prior history of the particular license or registrant involved with respect to gaming activity; (vii) any corrective action taken by the licensee or registrant to prevent future misconduct; (viii) and other relevant factors.
(c) In addition to collecting any civil penalties recoverable under this chapter or any other general or special law, the bureau may bring an action in the superior court to restrain, prevent or enjoin any conduct prohibited by this chapter or to compel action to comply immediately and fully with any order issued by the bureau. Except in cases of emergency where, in the opinion of the court, immediate abatement of the unlawful conduct is required to protect the public interest, the court may in its decree fix a reasonable time during which the person responsible for the unlawful conduct may abate and correct the violation. The expense of the proceeding shall be recoverable from the licensee and deposited into the gaming revenue fund pursuant to section 52.
(d) Upon a recommendation from the bureau, the commission shall issue orders to condition, suspend or revoke a license or permit issued under this chapter.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the bureau shall be authorized to issue an order to cease and desist any activity if the bureau finds that a licensee has engaged in or is about to engage in an act or practice which constitutes a violation of this chapter or laws of the commonwealth and may take such affirmative action to effect the order. If the bureau finds that the licensee is engaged in an act or practice that would cause irreparable harm to the security and integrity of the gaming establishment or the interests of the commonwealth in ensuring the security and integrity of gaming under this chapter, the bureau may issue a temporary suspension of the license.
(f) Any licensee who has been issued a temporary order of suspension by the bureau shall be entitled to a hearing before the commission on such suspension within 7 days that the order was issued. At the conclusion of the hearing, the commission may issue a final order to condition, suspend or revoke the license in question.
(g) Any licensee shall have the right to an adjudicatory hearing on an order issued by the bureau or commission pursuant to chapter 30A.
Section 35. (a) The bureau may assess a civil administrative penalty on a licensee or registrant who fails to comply with any provision of this chapter or any regulation or order adopted by the commission; provided, however, that such noncompliance occurred after the bureau had given such person written notice of such noncompliance and the time stated in said notice for coming into compliance had elapsed; provided, however, that the bureau may assess such penalty without providing such written notice if such failure to comply: (i) was part of a pattern of noncompliance and not an isolated instance; (ii) was willful or neglectful and not the result of error; (iii) resulted in a significant breach to the integrity of the gaming establishment or gaming laws of the commonwealth; and (iv) consisted of failure to promptly report any knowledge of a potential violation of this chapter to the commission. Any such penalty shall be in addition to any other civil penalty that may be prescribed by law.
(b) For the purpose of determining whether such noncompliance was part of a pattern of noncompliance and not an isolated instance, the bureau shall consider without limitation the following: (i) whether the bureau had previously notified the person of such noncompliance on more than one occasion during the previous month or of any noncompliance with the same provision of a law, regulation, order, license or approval as the current noncompliance during the previous 6 month period; or (ii) whether the current and previous noncompliances, considered together, indicate a potential threat to the integrity of the gaming establishment and gaming in the commonwealth or an interference with the commission’s ability to efficiently and effectively regulate gaming in the commonwealth and enforce any regulation, license or order. If a licensee or registrant who has received a notice of noncompliance fails to come into compliance within the time period stated in such notice, the civil administrative penalty may be assessed by the bureau upon such licensee or registrant from the date of receipt of such notice.
(c) Whenever the bureau seeks to assess a civil administrative penalty on any licensee or registrant, the bureau shall cause to be served upon such licensee or registrant, either by service, in hand, or by certified mail, return receipt requested, a written notice of its intent to assess a civil administrative penalty which shall include a concise statement of the alleged act or omission for which such civil administrative penalty is sought to be assessed, each law, regulation, order, license or approval which has not been complied with as a result of such alleged act or omission, the amount which the bureau seeks to assess as a civil administrative penalty for each such alleged act or omission, a statement of such licensee’s or registrant's right to an adjudicatory hearing on the proposed assessment, the requirements such licensee or registrant must comply with to avoid being deemed to have waived the right to an adjudicatory hearing and the manner of payment thereof if such person elects to pay the penalty and waive an adjudicatory hearing. After written notice of noncompliance or intent to assess a civil administrative penalty has been given, each such day thereafter during which such noncompliance occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense and shall be subject to a separate civil administrative penalty if reasonable efforts have not been made to promptly come into compliance.
(d) Whenever the bureau seeks to assess a civil administrative penalty on any licensee or registrant, such licensee or registrant shall have the right to an adjudicatory hearing under chapter 30A whose provisions shall apply except when they are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter.
(e) Such licensee or registrant shall be deemed to have waived such right to an adjudicatory hearing unless, within 21 days of the date of the bureau's notice that it seeks to assess a civil administrative penalty, such licensee or registrant files with the bureau a written statement denying the occurrence of any of the acts or omissions alleged by the bureau in such notice, or asserting that the money amount of the proposed civil administrative penalty is excessive. In any adjudicatory hearing authorized pursuant to chapter 30A, the bureau shall, by a preponderance of the evidence, prove the occurrence of each act or omission alleged by the bureau.
(f) If a licensee or registrant waives his right to an adjudicatory hearing, the proposed civil administrative penalty shall be final immediately upon such waiver. If a civil administrative penalty is assessed at the conclusion of an adjudicatory hearing, said civil administrative penalty shall be final upon the expiration of 30 days if no action for judicial review of such decision is commenced pursuant to chapter 30A.
(g) Any licensee or registrant who institutes proceedings for judicial review of the final assessment of a civil administrative penalty shall place the full amount of the final assessment in an interest-bearing escrow account in the custody of the clerk or magistrate of the reviewing court. The establishment of such an interest-bearing escrow account shall be a condition precedent to the jurisdiction of the reviewing court unless the party seeking judicial review demonstrates in a preliminary hearing held within 20 days of the filing of the complaint either the presence of a substantial question for review by the court or an inability to pay. Upon such a demonstration, the court may grant an extension or waiver of the interest-bearing escrow account or may require, in lieu of such interest-bearing escrow account, the posting of a bond payable directly to the commonwealth in the amount of 125 per cent of the assessed penalty. If, after judicial review, in a case where the requirement for an escrow account has been waived, and in cases where a bond has been posted in lieu of such requirement, the court affirms, in whole or in part, the assessment of a civil administrative penalty the commission shall be paid the amount thereof together with interest at the rate set forth in section 6C of chapter 231. If, after such review in a case where an interest-bearing escrow account has been established, the court affirms the assessment of such penalty, in whole or in part, the commission shall be paid the amount thereof together with the accumulated interest thereon in such interest-bearing escrow account. If the court sets aside the assessment of a civil administrative penalty in a case where the amount of such penalty has been deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account, the licensee or registrant on whom the civil administrative penalty was assessed shall be repaid the amount so set aside, together with the accumulated interest thereon.
(h) Each licensee or registrant who fails to pay a civil administrative penalty on time, and each person who issues a bond pursuant to this section and who fails to pay to the commission on time the amount required hereunder, shall be liable to the commonwealth for up to 3 times the amount of the civil administrative penalty, together with costs, plus interest from the time the civil administrative penalty became final and attorneys' fees, including all costs and attorneys' fees incurred directly in the collection thereof. The rate of interest shall be the rate set forth in section 6C of chapter 231. The bureau shall be authorized to require that the amount of a civil administrative penalty imposed pursuant to this section exceed any economic benefit realized by a person for noncompliance.
Section 36. (a) Any person who willfully fails to report, pay, or truthfully account for and pay over any license fee or tax imposed by the provisions of this chapter or by the regulations promulgated hereunder, or willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any such license fee, tax or payment thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or a fine of not more than $100,000, or both such fine and imprisonment, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, the amount of a fine up to $5,000,000.
(b) Any person who willfully resists, prevents, impedes, interferes with, or makes any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation to the authority or to the division or to their agents or employees in the performance of their duties pursuant to this chapter shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or a fine of not more than $25,000, or both such fine or imprisonment.
(c) Any person who conducts or operates, or permits to be conducted or operated, any game, electronic gaming equipment in violation of the licensing provisions of this chapter or the regulations adopted hereunder shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or a fine of not more than $25,000, or both such fine or imprisonment, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, the amount of a fine up to $100,000.
(d) Any licensee who, without the permission of the authority, (1) places controlled games or electronic gaming equipment into play or displays such controlled games or electronic gaming equipment in gaming establishment or (2) receives, directly or indirectly, any compensation or reward or any percentage or share of the revenue, for keeping, running, or carrying on any controlled game, or owning the real property or location in which any controlled game occurs, shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or by a fine of not more than $25,000, or both, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, the amount of a fine up to $100,000.
(e) Any person who conducts or operates any controlled game or electronic gaming equipment after his license has expired and prior to the actual renewal thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 1 and one-half years, or a fine of not more than $25,000, or both such fine or imprisonment, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, the amount of a fine up to $100,000.
(f) In addition to the provisions of section 75 of chapter 266, a person is guilty of swindling and cheating if the person purposely or knowingly by any trick or sleight of hand performance or by a fraud or fraudulent scheme, cards, dice, or other gaming equipment, for himself or for another or a representative of either, wins or attempts to win money or property, , or reduces a losing wager or attempts to reduce a losing wager in connection to controlled gaming.
(g) The penalties for swindling and cheating offenses shall be as follows:
Any person who swindles or cheats where the amount involved is $75,000 or more shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years, or in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years or by a fine of not more than $1,000,000, or both such fine or imprisonment.
Any person who swindles or cheats where the amount involved is $10,000 or more and less than $75,000 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years, or in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years or by a fine of not more than $500,000, or both.
Any person who swindles or cheats where the amount involved is $1,000 or more and less than $10,000 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 3 years or imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or by a fine of not more than $100,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.
Any person who swindles or cheats where the amount involved is less than $1,000 shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both such fine or imprisonment.
(h) Each episode or transaction of swindling or cheating may be the subject of a separate prosecution and conviction. In the discretion of the prosecutor, multiple episodes or transactions of swindling and cheating committed as part of a single scheme or course of conduct may be treated as a single offense, and the amounts involved in acts of swindling and cheating committed according to a scheme or course of conduct, whether by the same person or several persons, may be aggregated in determining the amount involved in the offense.
(i) Any person, who in playing, conducting or operating a game in a licensed gaming establishment, uses or assists another in the use of (1) a computerized, electronic, electrical, or mechanical device, which is designed, constructed, or programmed specifically for use in obtaining an advantage in any game in a licensed casino or gaming establishment or (2) any other swindling or cheating device, including, but not limited to, bogus or counterfeit chips, coins or dice; coins or tokens attached to strings or wires; marked cards; electronic or magnetic devices; or tools, drills, wires, keys, or devices designed for the purpose of and suitable for opening, entering, or affecting the operation of any gaming equipment, or for removing money or other contents there from, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or by a fine of not more than $25,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.
(j) Any person who possesses any computerized, electronic, electrical, or mechanical device or other swindling or cheating device described in clause (1) of subsection (i) with the intent to defraud, cheat, or swindle shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both such fine or imprisonment.
(k) Possession of any computerized, electronic, electrical, or mechanical device or other swindling or cheating device described in clause (1) of subsection (i) within a casino or gaming establishment shall constitute prima facie evidence of an intent to defraud, cheat or swindle, except that possession by any licensee, or employee of a licensee, acting in furtherance of his employment within a licensed casino or gaming establishment shall not constitute such prima facie evidence.
(l) Any swindling or cheating device used or possessed in violation of this section shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture by the bureau.
(m) It shall be unlawful for any licensee or employee to: knowingly conduct or operate, or allow to be conducted or operated, any swindling or cheating game or device; or knowingly conduct or operate or expose for play any game or games played with cards, dice, or any electronic or mechanical device, or any combination of games or devices, which have in any manner been marked or tampered with, or placed in a condition, or operated in a manner, the result of which tends to deceive the public or tends to alter the normal random selection of characteristics or the normal chance of the game or to alter the result of the game.
(n) Any person who violates this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or by a fine of not more than $25,000, or both such fine and imprisonment, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, the amount of a fine up to $100,000.
(o) Any swindling or cheating game or device used in violation of this section shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture by the division.
(p) Any person who manufactures, distributes, sells, or services any gaming equipment in violation of the provisions of this chapter or the regulations promulgated by the authority for the purposes of defrauding, cheating, or swindling any person playing, operating, or conducting a controlled game at a casino or gaming establishment shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years, or a fine of not more than $25,000, or both such fine and imprisonment.
(q) Any such unlawfully manufactured, distributed, sold, or serviced gaming equipment shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture by the division.
(r) Any person who, without obtaining the requisite license or registration as provided in this chapter, works or is employed in a position whose duties would require licensing or registration under the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 6 months, or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both.
(s) Any person who employs or continues to employ an individual not duly licensed or registered under the provisions of this chapter in a position the duties of which require a license or registration under the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 6 months, or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both such fine or imprisonment, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, the amount of a fine up to $100,000.
(t) Any person under the age of 21 who plays, places wagers at, or collects winnings from, whether personally or through an agent, any controlled game shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 6 months, or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both such fine or imprisonment.
(u) Any licensee or employee who knowingly allows a person under the age of 21 to play, place wagers at, or collect winnings from any controlled game, whether personally or through an agent, shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 1 year, or a fine of not more than $10,000, or both such fine or imprisonment, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, the amount of a fine may be up to $500,000. A subsequent violation of this section shall subject the licensee or employee to imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 2 years, or a fine of not more than $50,000, or both such fine or imprisonment, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, the amount of a fine up to $1,000,000.
(w) This section shall apply to any person who, from within the commonwealth, transmits a wager to, or receives a wager from, another person or gaming establishment within or outside of the commonwealth (x) This section shall not apply to the use of a local area network as a means to place authorized wagers in a licensed gaming establishment, or use of said devices or equipment by the authority in it duties in regulating, enforcing or auditing a licensed gaming operator.
(y) A licensee of a gaming establishment who knowingly fails to exclude from the premises of their licensed gaming establishment any person placed by the commission on the list of excluded persons shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Section 37. All penalties collected pursuant to this chapter and any renewal fees for a gaming establishment shall be deposited into the gaming revenue fund established by section 52.
Section 38. (a) The commission shall, by regulation, provide for the establishment of a list of excluded persons who are to be excluded or ejected from a gaming establishment. Such provisions shall include standards relating to persons: (1) who are repeat offenders as defined by the commission;(2) who are convicted of a criminal offense under the laws of any state or the United States, punishable by more than 6 months in prison or is a crime of moral turpitude; or (3) whose presence in a licensed gaming establishment would, in the opinion of the commission, pose an injurious threat to the interests of the commonwealth in the gaming establishment.
(b) The commission shall further define categories of persons who shall be excluded pursuant to this section, including cheats and persons whose privileges for licensure or registration have been revoked. No person shall be placed on the list of excluded persons due to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability or sex.
(c) The commission shall impose sanctions upon a licensed gaming establishment if such establishment knowingly fails to exclude or eject from its premises any person placed by the commission on the list of excluded persons.
(d) The list compiled by the commission of persons to be excluded shall not be deemed an all-inclusive list, and licensed gaming establishments shall have a duty to keep from their premises persons known to them to be within the classifications in subsection (a) or who whose presence in their establishment would be injurious to the interests of the gaming establishment itself or to the commonwealth, or both, as defined by standards set forth by the commission.
(e) Upon petition by any unit under the commission or the division that the name of a person be placed on the list , the commission shall serve written notice upon such person by personal service, registered or certified mail return receipt requested to the last ascertainable address, or by publication in a daily newspaper of general circulation for 1 week.
(f) Within 30 days of receipt of service by mail or 60 days after the last publication pursuant to subsection (c), a person placed on the list may request an adjudicatory hearing before the commission pursuant to chapter 30A and show cause as to why the name of said person should be removed from the list. If the commission determines that the regulation should not apply to the person, the commission shall remove them from the list and notify all gaming licensees under the chapter. Any such person aggrieved by a final decision of the commission in any adjudicatory proceeding under this section may petition for judicial review in accordance with the provisions of section 14 of chapter 30A.
(g) The commission shall establish a list of self-excluded persons from gaming activity at gaming establishments. A person may request his name to be placed on the list of self-excluded persons by filing a statement with the commission acknowledging that said person is a problem gambler and by agreeing that, during any period of voluntary exclusion, said person may not collect any winnings or recover any losses resulting from any gaming activity at a gaming establishment. The commission shall promulgate further regulations for the list of self-excluded persons including procedures for placement, removal and transmittal of such self-exclusion to gaming establishments.
(g ½) Gaming establishments shall not market to persons on the excluded persons list.
(h) A person who is prohibited from gaming in a gaming establishment pursuant to this section shall not collect any winnings or recover any losses arising as a result of any prohibited activity. Any winnings obtained by a prohibited persons shall be forfeited to the commission and deposited into the gaming revenue fund established by section 52.
Section 39. (a) No applicant for a gaming license, nor any holding, intermediary or subsidiary company thereof, nor any officer, director, gaming key employee or principal employee of an applicant for or holder of a gaming license or of any holding, intermediary or subsidiary company thereof nor any person or agent on behalf of any such applicant, holder, company or person, shall directly or indirectly, pay or contribute any money or thing of value to any candidate for nomination or election to any public office in the commonwealth or to any group, political party, committee or association organized in support of any such candidate or political party; except that the provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit any individual who is a candidate for public office from contributing to the candidate’s own campaign.
(b) No political contributions or contributions in kind shall be made to the governing body of a host community of any gaming establishment by a gaming licensee under this act outside of the host community agreement approved by the Massachusetts gaming commission. Any such contributions made to a host community by an applicant prior to issuance of a gaming license by the commission shall be disclosed by the applicant. This provision shall not preclude charitable contributions to a host community which shall be disclosed by a licensee to the commission.
Section 40. (a) A category 1 licensee shall pay a daily tax of 25 per cent on gross gaming revenues.
(b) Category 2 and category 3 licensees shall pay a daily tax of 40 per cent on gross gaming revenue.
(c) In addition to the tax imposed under subsection (b), category 2 licensees shall pay a daily assessment of 8 per cent and category 3 licensees shall pay a daily assessment of 10 per cent of their gross gaming revenue to the Massachusetts race horse development fund established by section 53.
(d) If a category 2 and a category 3 license merger is approved by the commission pursuant to section 20, the new category 2 licensee shall pay a daily assessment of 9 per cent of their gross gaming revenue to the Massachusetts race Horse Development Fund established by section 53.
(e) Taxes imposed under this section shall be remitted to the commission by a gaming licensee the day following each day of wagering.
Section 41. A category 1 licensee, a category 2 licensee and a category 3 licensee shall be subject to chapters 62 through 62E, inclusive, and chapters 63 through 63B, inclusive.
Section 42 Any liability to the commonwealth under this chapter shall constitute a debt to the commonwealth. Any such debt shall constitute a lien on all commercial property owned by a gaming licensee in the commonwealth, once a statement naming such licensee is recorded, registered or filed, and shall have priority over any encumbrance theretofore recorded, registered or filed with respect to any site.
Section 43. Prior to disbursement of a prize in excess of $600, a licensee shall review information furnished by the IV-D agency and by the department of revenue, as set forth in chapter 119A and in this section to ascertain whether the holder of a winning ticket owes past due child support to the commonwealth or to an individual to whom the IV-D agency is providing services, and to ascertain whether the holder of a winning ticket owes any past-due tax liability to the commonwealth. If the holder owes past-due child support or a past-due tax liability, the licensee shall notify the IV-D agency or the commonwealth, respectively, of the holder’s name, address and social security number. Subsequent to statutory state and federal tax withholding, the licensee shall first disburse to the IV-D agency the full amount of the prize or such portion of the prize that satisfies the holder’s past-due child support obligation and, if funds remain available after that disbursement, the licensee shall disburse to the department of revenue the full amount of the prize or such portion of the prize that satisfies the holder’s past-due tax liability. The licensee shall disburse to the holder only that portion of the prize, if any, remaining after the holder’s past-due child support obligation and the holder’s past-due tax liability have been satisfied.
Section 44. The division shall, on a monthly basis, transmit to the department of transitional assistance and to the IV-D agency, as set forth in chapter 119A, a list of all persons who were the holders of any winning ticket in excess of $600.00 in the prior month. The information shall be provided in a format which is compatible with the automated data processing systems of said departments, to ensure the immediate identification of persons who may be receiving public assistance benefits. The information provided shall include the name, address and social security number of the holder of the winning ticket.
Section 45. Unclaimed prize money shall be retained by the licensee for the person entitled thereto for 1 year after the drawing in which the prize was won. If no claim is made for said money within such year, the prize money shall be deposited in the gaming revenue fund established by section 52.
Section 46. If the person entitled to a prize or any winning ticket is under the age of 21 years said prize shall be remitted to the commission and deposited into the gaming revenue fund established by section 52.
Section 47. A gaming establishment, including any business located within such establishment, shall not be a certified project within the meaning of section 3F of chapter 23A. Gaming establishments shall not be designated an economic opportunity area within the meaning of section 3E of chapter 23A. Gaming establishments are not eligible for tax increment financing as set forth in section 59 of chapter 40 or special tax assessments set forth in section 3E of chapter 23A. Gaming establishments may not be classified and taxed as recreational land under the provisions of chapter 61B. Gaming establishments may not be designated as a development district within the meaning of chapter 40Q. Unless otherwise provided, a gaming establishment or any business located or to be located within a resort casino is not eligible for the following credits or deductions listed in chapter 62 or chapter 63: the investment tax credit under section 31A of chapter 63, the employment credit under section 31C of chapter 63, the van pool credit under section 31E of chapter 63, the deduction for expenditures for industrial waste treatment or air pollution control under section 38D of chapter 63, the deduction for compensation paid to an eligible business facility’s employees domiciled in a section of substantial poverty under section 38F of chapter 63, the alternative energy sources deduction under section 38H of chapter 63, the research expense credit under section 38M of chapter 63, the economic opportunity area credit under section 6(g) of chapter 62, and section 38N of chapter 63, the abandoned building deduction under section 3B(a)(10) of chapter 62, and section 38O of chapter 63, the harbor maintenance tax credit under section 38P of chapter 63, the brownfields credit under section 6(j) of chapter 62, and section 38Q of chapter 63, the historic rehabilitation tax credit under section 6J of chapter 62 and section 38R of chapter 63, the automatic sprinkler system depreciation deduction under section 38S of chapter 63, and the credit for a solar water heating system under section 38T of chapter 63.
Section 48 The sale, assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition of any security issued by a corporation, which holds a gaming license is conditional and shall be ineffective if disapproved by the commission. If at any time the commission finds that an individual owner or holder of any security of a corporate licensee or of a holding or intermediary company with respect thereto is not qualified under this chapter, and if as a result the corporate licensee is no longer qualified to continue as a gaming licensee in the commonwealth, the commission shall take any action necessary to protect the interests of the commonwealth including, but not limited to, suspension or revocation of the gaming license of the corporation.
Each corporation which has been issued a gaming license pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall file a report of any change of its corporate officers or members of its board of directors with the commission. No officer or director shall be entitled to exercise any powers of office until qualified by the commission.
Section 49. The commission shall audit as often as the commission determines necessary, but not less than annually, the accounts, programs, activities, and functions of all licensees, and for said purpose the authorized officers and employees of the commission shall have access to such accounts at reasonable times and the commission may require the production of books, documents, vouchers and other records relating to any matter within the scope of such audit, except tax returns. The superior court shall have jurisdiction to enforce the production of records that the commission requires to be produced pursuant to this section, and the court shall order the production of all such records within the scope of any such audit. All such audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. In any audit report of the accounts, funds, programs, activities, and functions of a licensee issued by the commission, containing adverse or critical audit results, the commission may require a response, in writing, to such audit results. Such response shall be forwarded to the commission within 15 days of notification by the commission.
On or before April 1 of each year, the commission shall submit a report to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate who shall forward the same to the house and senate committees on ways and means which shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of audits performed under this section; (ii) a summary of findings under said audits; and (iii) the cost of each audit.
Section 50. Unless the commission otherwise determines it to be in the best fiscal interests of the commonwealth, the commission shall utilize the services of a private testing laboratory that has obtained a license as a gaming vendor pursuant to section 26 to perform the testing of slot machines and other gaming equipment, and may also utilize applicable data from any such private testing laboratory, or from a governmental agency of a state other than the Massachusetts, authorized to regulate slot machines and other gaming equipment.
Section 51. There is herby established and placed upon the books of the commonwealth a Gaming Licensing Fund which shall receive all licensing fees collected from applicants in receipt of a category 1, 2 or 3 gaming license. The fund shall expire on December 31, 2015. The commission shall be the trustee of the fund and shall transfer monies in the fund in order of the following provisions:-
$15,000,000 to the community mitigation fund established by section 54;
$5,000,000 to the General Fund to reimburse the General Fund for the initial regulatory costs of the commission;
$40,000,000 to the local capital projects fund established by section 58;
$50,000,000 shall be transferred to the Manufacturing Fund established by section 56;
$25,000,000 shall be transferred to the Community College Fund established by section 57;
$3,000,000 to the Massachusetts tourism fund established pursuant to section 35J of chapter 10;
Any remaining monies in the fund after disbursement to sections 1 through 6 shall be transferred to the commonwealth stabilization fund established by section 2H of chapter 29;
Section 52. There is hereby established and placed upon the books of the commonwealth a Gaming Revenue Fund which shall receive revenues collected from the tax on gross gaming revenue received from gaming licensees. The commission shall be the trustee of the fund and shall transfer monies in the fund in accordance with the following provisions:-
(1) Until a category 1 facility is operational, one hundred per cent of the revenue received from category 2 and category 3 licensees shall be transferred to the gaming local aid fund established by section 55.
(2) Upon the opening of a category 1 facility, all monies received into the fund shall be transferred as follows:
(a) One per cent of revenues shall be transferred to the Massachusetts cultural council of which one half of revenues received shall be dedicated to the organization support program of the Massachusetts cultural council and of which not less than one half of revenues shall be dedicated to support not-for-profit or municipally-owned performing arts centers impacted as a result of the licensure of gaming facilities in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Funds dedicated to such performing arts centers shall be for the purpose of subsidizing fees paid to touring shows or artists; provided, however that funding shall be appropriated through a competitive grant process to be developed and administered by the Massachusetts cultural council.
(b) one percent shall be transferred to the Massachusetts tourism fund established pursuant to section 35J of chapter 10 which shall fund tourist promotion agencies as defined in subsection (c).
(c) Two per cent shall be transferred to the community mitigation fund established by section 54; provided, however, that said fund balance shall not exceed $15,000,000. Funds in excess of $15,000,000 shall be transferred to the local capital projects fund established by section 58;
(d) Six per cent shall be transferred to the local capital projects fund established by section 58;
(e) Thirty per cent shall be transferred to the gaming local aid fund established by section 55;
(f) Thirty per cent shall be transferred to the commonwealth stabilization fund established by section 2H of chapter 29; provided, however, that in any fiscal year in which the amount appropriated in item 7061-0008 of the general appropriation act, paid from the General Fund, or the amount of unrestricted general government aid paid from the general fund, including lottery aid distribution to cities and towns as paid from the General Fund in accordance with clause (c) of the second paragraph of section 35 of chapter 10 of the General Laws and the amount of additional funds distributed to cities and towns as additional assistance paid from the General Fund, is less than that of the previous fiscal year, up to one-half of the funds otherwise directed to the Commonwealth Stabilization Fund pursuant to this section, up to an amount equal to the deficiency between said appropriations for the current and previous fiscal years, shall be transferred to the gaming local aid fund in addition to the thirty percent provided for in subsection (e);
(g) Thirty per cent shall be transferred to the Education Fund established by section 59.
Section 53 (a) There is hereby established and placed upon the books of the commonwealth a Race Horse Development Fund to be administered by the commission. The commission shall make distributions from the race horse fund to each of the active and operating category 2 licensees conducting live racing.
(b) Funds from the race horse development fund shall be distributed in proportion to the gross gaming revenue of each category 2 licensee; provided that the funds received by each licensee shall be allocated in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) eighty per cent shall be deposited weekly into a separate, interest-bearing purse account to be established by and for the benefit of the horsemen. The earned interest on the account shall be credited to the purse account. Licensees shall combine these funds with revenues from existing purse agreements to fund purses for live races consistent with those agreements with the advice and consent of the horsemen;
(ii) for a thoroughbred track, 16 per cent shall be deposited on a monthly basis into the Massachusetts thoroughbred breeding program authorized by the commission pursuant to section 2 of chapter 128;
(iii) for a harness track, 8 per cent shall be deposited on a monthly basis into the Massachusetts standardbred breeding program authorized by the commission pursuant to section 2 of chapter 128 and an additional 8 per cent shall be deposited on a monthly basis into a standardbred breeder development program authorized by the commission;
(iv) four per cent shall be used to fund health and pension benefits for the members of the horsemen’s organizations representing the owners and trainers at the racetrack at which the category 2 licensee operates for the benefit of the organization’s members, their families, employees and others in accordance with the rule and eligibility requirements of the organization, as approved by the commission. This amount shall be deposited within 5 business days of the end of each month into a separate account to be established by each respective horsemen’s organization at a banking institution of its choice. Of this amount, the commission shall determine how much should be paid annually by the horsemen’s organization to the thoroughbred jockeys or standardbred drivers organization at the racetrack at which the licensed racing entity operates for health insurance, life insurance or other benefits to active and disabled thoroughbred jockeys or standardbred drivers in accordance with the rules and eligibility requirements of that organization.
Section 54 (a) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Community Mitigation Fund. The community fund shall consist of monies transferred under section 52 and all other monies credited or transferred to the fund from any other fund or source pursuant to law; provided, however, that the balance of the fund shall not exceed $15,000,000.
(b) The commission shall administer the fund and, without further appropriation, shall expend monies in the fund to assist contiguous communities in offsetting costs related to the construction and operation of a gaming facility including, but not limited to, communities and water and sewer districts in the vicinity of a gaming facility and public safety, including the office of the county district attorney.
(c) Parties requesting appropriations from the community fund shall submit a written request for funding to the commission before February 1 of each year. The commission may hold a public hearing in the region of a gaming facility to provide parties with the opportunity to provide further information about their request for funds and shall distribute funds to requesting parties based on demonstrated need.
Section 55 There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a fund to be known as the Gaming Local Aid Fund. The gaming local aid fund shall consist of monies transferred under section 52 and all monies credited or transferred to the fund from any other fund or source pursuant to law.
Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, monies from the gaming local aid fund shall be used in addition to the balance of the state lottery fund for distribution to cities and towns in accordance with the provisions of clause (c) of section 35 of chapter 10 and any monies so distributed shall be considered part of “General revenue sharing aid” for purposes of annual aid and contribution requirements established pursuant to chapter 70 or section 3 of the annual general appropriation act. Notwithstanding any law or regulation to the contrary, beginning the first year that Gaming Local Aid funding is available for distribution to cities and towns, no city or town shall receive as a combination of “General Revenue Sharing Aid” and “Gaming Local Aid”, in any year, an amount that is less than 25 percent of the total lottery sales made within that community. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the provisions of this paragraph shall not take effect until such time as the executive office of administration and finance and the department of revenue has furnished a study of its impact on the state’s economy and revenue cost to the commonwealth and its cities and towns, including, but not limited to, a distributional analysis showing the impact on taxpayers of varying income levels, the current practice of other states, any anticipated change in employment and ancillary economic activity to the joint committee on revenue and until legislation has been filed and passed pursuant to Part 2, Chap. 1, Sec. 1, Art. II of the Constitution.
Section 56 There is hereby established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a fund to be known as the Manufacturing Fund. The manufacturing fund shall be credited any monies transferred under section 51 and all monies credited to or transferred to the fund from any other fund or source pursuant to law.
Section 57 There is hereby established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a fund to be known as the Community College Fund. The community college fund shall be credited any monies transferred under section 51 and all monies credited to or transferred to the fund from any other fund or source pursuant to law.
Section 58 There is hereby established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a fund to be known as the Local Capital Projects Fund. The local capital projects fund shall be credited any monies transferred under sections 51 or 52 and all monies credited to or transferred to the fund from any other fund or source pursuant to law.
Section 59 There is hereby established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a fund to be known as the Education Fund. The education fund shall be credited any monies transferred under section 52 and all monies credited to or transferred to the fund from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Expenditures from said fund for the purposes of K-12 education shall be used to supplement, and not offset, any reduction in line item 7061-0008 of the general appropriations act.
Section 60 The commission shall continue to evaluate the progress of federally recognized tribes in the commonwealth as they proceed with any applications to place land into trust for the purposes of tribal economic development. The commission shall determine whether it would be in the best interest of the commonwealth to enter into any negotiations with said tribes for the purposes of establishing Class III gaming on tribal land and shall submit reports as it deems necessary, but not less than once a year, to the governor and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives detailing any land in trust issues as well as the financing capabilities of a proposed tribal casino.
Section 61. There shall be a gaming policy advisory council consisting of 14 members: 1 of whom shall be the state treasurer, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the attorney general, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be the chair of the commission; 1 of whom shall be the secretary of administration and finance, or his designee; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; and 6 of whom shall be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall have an expertise in the treatment of gambling addiction, 1 of whom shall be a representative from the tourism industry, 1 of whom shall be a member of organized labor, 1 of whom shall be a representative from a licensed gaming establishment; and 2 of whom shall be appointed from the vicinity of each resort casino upon determination of the licensee and site location by the commission. The council shall establish a tourism subcommittee whose purpose is to develop policies that facilitate the integration of gaming establishments into local tourism regions. The subcommittee shall submit any proposed recommendations to the commission within 4 months of the deadline for receipt of applications for a gaming license pursuant to section 10. Members of the council shall serve for a term of two years. The council shall convene after all members have been appointed to the commission and annually thereafter unless otherwise convened by the governor for the purpose of discussing matters of gaming policy. The recommendations concerning gaming policy made by the council pursuant to this section shall not be binding on the commission.
Section 62. The commission shall annually submit a complete and detailed report of the commission’s activities within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year to the clerk of the house of representatives, the clerk of the senate, the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means.
SECTION 13 Section 1 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “connector”, in line 211, the following words:- , the Massachusetts Gaming Commission,.
SECTION 14. Section 2 of chapter 32A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “authority”, in line 12, the following words:- , the Massachusetts gaming commission.
SECTION 15. Section 94 of chapter 41 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “and”, in line 7, the first time it appears, the following word: illegal.
SECTION 16. Section 18D of chapter 58 of the General Laws is hereby repealed
SECTION 17. Subsection (d)(1) of section 2 of chapter 62 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (P) the following paragraph:-
(Q) Losses from wagering transactions shall be allowed only to the extent of the gains from such transactions pursuant to section 165 of the Code..
SECTION 18. Section 2 of chapter 62B of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the seventh paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-
Every person, including the United States, the commonwealth or any other state, or any political subdivision or instrumentality of the foregoing, making any payment of lottery or wagering winnings, which are subject to tax under chapter 62 and which are subject to withholding under section 3402(q) without the exception for slot machines, and keno, and bingo played at licensed casinos in the commonwealth in subsection (q)(5) and (r) of the Internal Revenue Code shall deduct and withhold from such payment an amount equal to 5 percent of such payment, except that such withholding for purposes of this chapter shall apply to payments of winnings of $600 or greater notwithstanding any contrary provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time. For purposes of this chapter and chapter 62C, such payment of winnings shall be treated as if it were wages paid by an employer to an employee. Every person who is to receive a payment of winnings which is subject to withholding under this section shall furnish to the person making such payment a statement, made under penalties of perjury, containing the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the person receiving the payment and of each person entitled to any portion of such payment.
SECTION 19. Said chapter 62Bis hereby further amended by striking out section 5, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 5. Every employer required to deduct and withhold from an employee or payee a tax under section 2, or who would have been required under said section in the case of an employee to deduct and withhold a tax if the employee had not claimed any personal exemption or dependency exemptions, shall furnish to each such employee or payee in respect of the wages or other payments paid by such employer to such employee or payee during the calendar year, on or before January 31 of the succeeding year, or, if an employee’s employment is terminated before the close of such calendar year, within 30 days from the day on which the last payment of wages is made, a written statement in duplicate showing the name of the employer, the name of the employee or payee and his social security account number, if any, the total amount of wages or other amounts subject to taxation under chapter 62, and the total amount deducted and withheld as tax. This statement may contain such other information as the commissioner may prescribe. The commissioner may grant reasonable extensions of time, not exceeding 60 days, for the furnishing of the statement.
Every employer who fails to withhold or pay to the commissioner any sums required by this chapter to be withheld or paid shall be personally and individually liable therefore to the commonwealth. The term “employer,” as used in this section and in section 11, includes any person or entity required to withhold tax from any payee, and includes an officer or employee of a corporation, or a member or employee of a partnership or limited liability company, who as such officer, employee or member is under a duty to withhold and pay over taxes in accordance with this section and section 2. Any sum withheld in accordance with section 2 shall be considered to be held in trust for the commonwealth.
If an employer in violation of the provisions of this chapter fails to withhold the tax in accordance with section 2, and thereafter the tax against which such tax may be credited, pursuant to section 9, is paid, the tax so required to be withheld shall not be collected from the employer; but this paragraph shall in no case relieve the employer from liability for any penalties or addition to the tax otherwise applicable in respect of such failure to withhold.
SECTION 20. The first paragraph of section 8 of chapter 62C of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:-The same basis of reporting shall be utilized for income that is subject to taxation or withholding under chapter 62 or 62B but is not subject to taxation or withholding under the Code.
SECTION 21. Subsection (f) of section 38 of chapter 63 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:- “,
For the purposes of this subsection: (1) in the case of the licensing of intangible property, the income-producing activity shall be considered to be performed in the commonwealth to the extent that the intangible property is used in the commonwealth; (2) the corporation shall be considered to be taxable in the state of the purchaser if the tangible personal property is delivered or shipped to a purchaser in a foreign country; (3) sales of tangible personal property to the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof for purposes of resale to a foreign government or any agency or instrumentality thereof are not sales made in the commonwealth; (4) in the case of the sale, exchange or other disposition of a capital asset, as defined in paragraph (m) of section 1 of chapter 62, used in a taxpayer's trade or business, including a deemed sale or exchange of such asset, "sales'' are measured by the gain from the transaction; (5) "security'' means any interest or instrument commonly treated as a security as well as other instruments which are customarily sold in the open market or on a recognized exchange, including, but not limited to, transferable shares of a beneficial interest in any corporation or other entity, bonds, debentures, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness, accounts receivable and notes receivable, cash and cash equivalents including foreign currencies, and repurchase and futures contracts; (6) in the case of a sale or deemed sale of a business, the term "sales'' does not include receipts from the sale of the business "good will'' or similar intangible value, including, without limitation, "going concern value'' and "workforce in place.''; (7) to the extent authorized pursuant to the life sciences tax incentive program established by section 5 of chapter 23I, a certified life sciences company may be deemed a research and development corporation for purposes of exemptions under chapters 64H and 64I; and (8) in the case of a business deriving receipts from operating a gaming facility or otherwise deriving receipts from conducting a wagering business or activity, income-producing activity shall be considered to be performed in this commonwealth to the extent that the location of wagering transactions or activity that generated the receipts is in this commonwealth.
SECTION 22. Section 2 of chapter 128 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 99, the words “or dog”.
SECTION 23. Said section 2 of said chapter 128, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (i).
SECTION 24. Section 1 of chapter 128A of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 6, the words “state racing commission” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Massachusetts gaming commission established pursuant to chapter 23K.
SECTION 25. Chapter 128A of the General Laws is hereby repealed. .
SECTION 26. Section 1 of chapter 128C of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 12, the words “state racing commission” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- Massachusetts gaming commission established pursuant to chapter 23K.
SECTION 27. Said chapter 128C of the General Laws is hereby repealed.
SECTION 28. Section 1 of chapter 137 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “gaming,”, in line 2, the following words:- ,except for gaming conducted in licensed gaming establishments pursuant to chapter 23K.
SECTION 29. Section 2 of said chapter 137, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 2, the word “where” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- , except for an owner or operator of a licensed gaming establishment pursuant to chapter 23K, where.
SECTION 30. Section 3 of said chapter 137, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “betting,”, in line 5, the following words:- ,except for legalized gaming conducted pursuant to chapter 23K.
SECTION 31. Section 18 of chapter 139 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “of”, in line 6, the word:- illegal.
SECTION 32. Section 177A of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “machines”, in line 12, the following words:- , and excluding slot machines as defined by chapter 23K.
SECTION 33. Section 26A of chapter 180 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 4 and 16, the following words “ or dog”.
SECTION 34. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 267 the following chapter:-
Chapter 267A
Money Laundering
Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
“Conducts”, initiates, concludes or participates in initiating or concluding a transaction.
“Criminal activity”, a criminal offense punishable under the laws of the commonwealth by imprisonment in a state prison or a criminal offense committed in another jurisdiction punishable under the laws of that jurisdiction as a felony.
“Financial institution”, any: (1) bank as defined in section 1 of chapter 167; (2) national banking association, bank, savings and loan, savings bank, cooperative bank, building and loan, or credit union organized under the laws of the United States; (3) banking association, bank, savings and loan, savings bank, cooperative bank, building and loan or credit union organized under the laws of any state; (4) any agency, agent, or branch of a foreign bank; (5) currency dealer or exchange; (6) any person or business engaged primarily in the cashing of checks; (7) person or business regularly engaged in the issuing, selling, or redeeming of traveler's checks, money orders or similar instruments; (8) broker or dealer in securities or commodities; (9) licensed transmitter of funds or other person or business regularly engaged in the transmission of funds to a foreign nation for others; (10) investment banker or investment company; (11) insurer; (12) dealer in precious metals, stones or jewels; (13) pawnbroker or scrap metal dealer; (14) telegraph or other communications company; (15) personal property or real estate broker; (16) dealer in vehicles, including, but not limited to, automobiles, aircraft and vessels; (17) operator of a betting or gambling facility; (18) travel agent; any thrift institution; any operator of a credit card system; or (19) any loan or finance company.
“Monetary instrument”, the currency and coin of the United States or any foreign country; any bank check, money order, stock, investment security, or negotiable instrument in bearer form or otherwise in such form that title passes upon delivery; gold, silver or platinum bullion or coins; diamonds, emeralds, rubies, or sapphires; any negotiable instrument including: bank checks, cashier's checks, traveler's checks, or monetary orders made payable to the order of a named party that have not been endorsed or which bear restrictive endorsements; poker chips, vouchers or other tokens exchangeable for cash by gaming entities; and credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, gift certificates, calling cards, or scrips.
“Transaction”, a purchase, sale, loan, pledge, gift, transfer, delivery, or other disposition, and with respect to a financial institution includes a deposit, withdrawal, bailment, transfer between accounts, exchange of currency, loan, extension of credit, purchase or sale of any stock, bond, certificate of deposit, or other monetary instrument, use of a safe deposit box, or any other payment, transfer, or delivery by, through, or to a financial institution, by whatever means effected.
Section 2. Whoever knowingly: (1) engages in a transaction involving a monetary instrument or other property known to be derived from criminal activity with the intent to promote, carry on or facilitate criminal activity, or knowing that the transaction is designed in whole or in part either to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership or control of the property derived from criminal activity or to avoid a transaction reporting requirement of this chapter, of the United States, or of any other state; (2) transports or possesses a monetary instrument or other property that was derived from criminal activity; or (3) directs, organizes, finances, plans, manages, supervises, or controls the transportation of or transactions in monetary instruments or other property known to be derived from criminal activity or which a reasonable person would believe to be derived from criminal activity; is guilty of the crime of money laundering and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 6 years or by a fine of not more than $250,000 or twice the value of the property transacted, whichever is greater, or by both such imprisonment and fine; and for any subsequent offense shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than 2 years, but not more than 8 years or by a fine of not more than $500,000 or 3 times the value of the property transacted, whichever is greater, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
Section 3. (a) A financial institution shall file with the attorney general a copy of any and all reports required by the Currency and Foreign Transactions Act, set forth in 31 U.S.C., sections 5311 through 5315, 31 C.F.R. 103.
(b) A financial institution, or any officer, employee, or agent thereof that maintains and files a record in reliance of this section shall not be liable to its customer, to a state or local agency, or to any person for any loss or damage caused in whole or in part by the making, filing, or governmental use of the report, or any information contained therein. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to give rise to a private cause of action for relief or damages. This paragraph does not preclude a financial institution, in its discretion, from instituting contact with, and thereafter communicating with and disclosing customer financial records to appropriate federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies when the financial institution has reason to suspect that the records or information demonstrate that the customer has violated any provisions of this chapter.
(c) Any report, record, or information obtained by the attorney general pursuant to this section is not a public record and is not subject to disclosure, except to other state and federal law enforcement agencies.
(d) Any violation of this section, which is not a violation of section 2, shall be punished by a fine of $100 for each report not filed.
(e) The timely filing of complete and accurate reports required under subsection (a) with the appropriate federal agency is compliance with the requirements of subsection (a).
Section 4. All monetary instruments or other property, real or personal, obtained directly as a result of a violation of section 2 of this chapter, shall be subject to forfeiture to the commonwealth.
SECTION 35. Section 1 of chapter 271 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “gaming”, in lines 3 and 4, the following words:- ,except as permitted under chapter 23K.
SECTION 36. Section 2 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “playing”, in line 4, the following words:- ,except as permitted under chapter 23K.
SECTION 37. Section 3 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “gaming”, in line 3, the following words:- ,except as permitted under chapter 23K.
SECTION 38. Section 5 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “thing,”, in line 7, the following words:- except as permitted under chapter 23K.
SECTION 39. The second paragraph of section 5A of chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:-
This section shall not apply to persons who manufacture, transport, sell, offer for sale, store, display, repair, recondition, possess or use any gambling device or parts for use therein for controlled gaming conducted under chapter 23K.
SECTION 40. Section 6 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in lines 3 and 4, the words “gambling or unlawful game and inserting in place thereof the words:- illegal gaming.
SECTION 41. Section 7 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “device”, in line 7, the first time it appears, the following words:- that is taking place in a legalized gaming establishment pursuant to chapter 23K,.
SECTION 42. Said chapter 271is hereby further amended by striking out section 8, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:
Section 8. Whoever owns, occupies, or is in control of a house, shop or building and knowingly permits the establishing, managing or drawing of such lottery, or such disposal or attempt to dispose of property, or the sale of a lottery ticket or share of a ticket, or any other writing, certificate, bill, token or other device purporting or intended to entitle the holder, bearer or any other person to a prize or to a share of or interest in a prize to be drawn in a lottery, or in such disposal or property, and whoever knowingly suffers money or other property to be raffled for or won by throwing or using dice or by any other game of chance that is not being conducted in a legalized gaming facility pursuant to chapter 23K, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2000 or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 1 year.
SECTION 43. Section 14 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “ by”, in line 3, the first time it appears, the following words:- illegal games of.
SECTION 44. Section 16A of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “wagerers”, in line 14, the following words:- or to persons who organize, supervise, manage or finance persons for the purpose of controlled gaming conducted under chapter 23K.
SECTION 45. Section 17 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:-
This section shall not apply to persons who organize, supervise, manage or finance persons for the purpose of controlled gaming conducted under chapter 23K.
SECTION 46. Section 19 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “hazard”, in line 16, the following words:- ; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to advertising of legalized gaming conducted pursuant to chapter 23K.
SECTION 47. Section 20 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “used”, in line 17, the following words:- ;provided, however that this section shall not apply to advertising of legalized gaming conducted pursuant to chapter 23K.
SECTION 48. Section 22 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “ of”, in line 6, the third time it appears, the following word:- illegal.
SECTION 49. Section 23 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “for”, in line 28, the following words:-; provided, however, that such provision shall not apply to legalized gaming conducted pursuant chapter 23K.
SECTION 50. Section 28 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “of”, in line 3, the third time it appears, the following word:- illegal.
SECTION 51. Section 31 of said chapter 271, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “both”, in line 8, the following words:- ;provided, however, that this section shall not apply to legalized racing conducted pursuant to chapter 23K.
SECTION 52. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 271 the following new chapter:-
Chapter 271A
Enterprise Crime
Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
“Criminal enterprise activity”, to commit ,attempt to commit, conspire to commit, or solicit, coerce, aid, abet, or intimidate another to commit any of the following criminal activity under the laws of the commonwealth or equivalent crimes under the laws of any other jurisdiction: murder; rape; manslaughter; assault; assault and battery; mayhem; robbery; extortion; stalking; criminal harassment; kidnapping; arson; burglary; malicious destruction of property; commission of a felony for hire; breaking and entering; child exploitation; poison; human trafficking; violation of constitutional rights; usury; uttering; misuse or fraudulent use of credit cards; identity fraud; misappropriation of funds; gross fraud; insurance fraud; prize fighting; boxing matches; counterfeiting; perjury; subornation of perjury; obstruction of justice; money laundering; witness intimidation; bribery; electronic eavesdropping; prostitution; receiving stolen property; larceny over $250.00; larceny by false pretenses or/embezzlement; forgery; prohibited financial interest; procurement fraud; false claims; tax evasion; filing false tax return; crimes involving violations of laws relating to gambling and lottery; gift; liquor; tobacco s; firearms; securities; lobbying; ethics; conflict of interest child and elder abuse; or any conduct defined as a racketeering activity under Title 18, U.S.C. s. 1961(1)(A)(B) and (D).
“Enterprise”, any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, trust or other legal entity, or any unchartered union, association or group of persons associated in fact although not a legally recognized entity, and including unlawful and lawful enterprises and governmental and other entities.
“Pattern of criminal enterprise activity”, engaging in at least two incidents of criminal enterprise activity that have the same or similar pattern, intents, results, accomplices, victims or methods of commission, or are otherwise interrelated by distinguishing characteristics and are not isolated incidents; provided Y at least 1 of the acts occurred after the effective date of this act and the last of the incidents occurred within 5 years after a prior commission of criminal enterprise activity.
“Unlawful debt”, a debt incurred or contracted in an illegal gambling activity or business or which is unenforceable under state or federal law in whole or part as to principal or interest because of the law relating to usury.
Section 2. Whoever knowingly: (1) through a pattern of criminal enterprise activity or through the collection of an unlawful debt, receives anything of value or acquires or maintains, directly or indirectly, any interest in or control of any enterprise; (2) has received any proceeds derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of criminal enterprise activity or through the collection of an unlawful debt, to use or invest, directly or indirectly, any part of the proceeds including proceeds derived from the investment, in the acquisition of any interest in real property, or in the establishment or operation of, any enterprise; (3) is employed by or associated with any enterprise to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of the enterprise's affairs by engaging in a pattern of criminal enterprise activity or through the collection of an unlawful debt; or (4) conspires or attempts to violate subsections (a), (b), or (c) of this section; is guilty of enterprise crime and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than 3 years and not more than 15 years or by a fine of not more than $25,000, or by both such imprisonment and fine.
A purchase of securities on the open market for purposes of investment, and without the intention of controlling or participating in the control of the issuer, or of assisting another to do so, shall not be unlawful under this section if the securities of the issuer held by the purchaser, the members of his immediate family, and his or their accomplices in any pattern of criminal activity or the collection of an unlawful debt after such purchase do not amount in the aggregate to one percent of the outstanding securities of any one class and do not confer, either in law or in fact, the power to elect one or more directors of the issuer.
Section 3. All monetary proceeds or other property, real or personal, obtained directly as a result of a violation of this chapter, shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture to the commonwealth.
SECTION 53. Section 39 of chapter 272 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “in”, in line 7, the following word:- illegal.
SECTION 54. Section 99 of said chapter 272, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “forgery,”, in line 68, the word:- illegal.
SECTION 55 . Said section 13 of said chapter 494, as most recently amended by section 2 of chapter 114 of the acts of 1991, is hereby further amended by striking out clause (c ).
SECTION 56. Clause (d) of said section 13 of said chapter 494, as appearing in said section 2 of said chapter 114, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 21, the words “(b) or (c )” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and (b).
SECTION 57. Said section 13 of said chapter 494, as most recently amended by said section 2 of said chapter 114, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection (f)
SECTION 58. The first paragraph of section 12A of chapter 494 of the acts of 1978 is hereby amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 1 of chapter 167 of the acts of 2009, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31, 2014.
SECTION 59. The last paragraph of said section 12A of said chapter 494 is hereby amended by striking out the words “July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 2 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31, 2014.
SECTION 60. The introductory paragraph of section 13 of said chapter 494 is hereby amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 3 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until December 31, 2014.SECTION 61. Section 15 of said chapter 494 is hereby amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 4 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until December 31, 2014.SECTION 62. The first paragraph of section 9 of chapter 277 of the acts of 1986 is hereby amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 5 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until December 31, 2014.SECTION 63. The first sentence of the first paragraph of section 3 of chapter 114 of the acts of 1991 is hereby amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 6 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until December 31, 2014.SECTION 64. The last paragraph of said section 3 of said chapter 114 is hereby amended by striking out the words “July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 7 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31, 2014. SECTION 65. The first paragraph of section 4 of said chapter 114 is hereby amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 8 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until December 31, 2014.SECTION 66. The last paragraph of said section 4 of said chapter 114 is hereby amended by striking out the words “July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 9 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31, 2014.SECTION 67. The first paragraph of section 5 of said chapter 114 is hereby amended by striking out the words “and until July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 10 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- and until December 31, 2014.SECTION 68. Section 13 of chapter 101 of the acts of 1992 is hereby amended by striking out the words “July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 11 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31, 2014.SECTION 69. Section 45 of chapter 139 of the acts of 2001 is hereby amended by striking out the words “July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 12 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31, 2014.SECTION 70. Section 20 of chapter 449 of the acts of 2006 is hereby amended by striking out the words “July 31, 2010”, inserted by section 13 of said chapter 167, and inserting in place thereof the following words:- December 31, 2014.
SECTION 71. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in making initial appointments to the board of directors of the Massachusetts gaming commission established pursuant to section 3 of chapter 23K of the General Laws, the governor, the attorney general and the treasurer and receiver general, by majority agreement, shall appoint 1 commissioner to serve for a term of 3 years, 1 commissioner to serve for a term of 4 years, 1 commissioner to serve for a term of 5 years, 1 commissioner to serve for a term of 6 years, and 1 commissioner to serve for a term of 7 years.
SECTION 72. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the vote of a municipality required pursuant to section 16 of chapter 23K of the General Laws shall occur after the effective date of this act.
SECTION 73. Pursuant to section 2 of chapter 1194, 64 Stat. 1134, 15 U.S.C. 1171-1177, approved January 2, 1951, the commonwealth, acting by and through duly elected and qualified members of the general court, does declare and proclaim that the commonwealth shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter 1194, 64 Stat. 1134, 15 U.S.C. 1171 to 1178 for any gambling device authorized for use and transport under chapter 23K of the General Laws and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
SECTION 74. All shipments of gambling devices into the commonwealth, including slot machines, the registering, recording and labeling of which has been duly had by the manufacturer of dealer thereof in accordance with sections 3 and 4 of an Act of Congress of the United States entitled “An act to prohibit transportation of gambling devices in interstate and foreign commerce,” approved January 2, 1951, being chapter 1194, 64 Stat. 1134, and also designated as 15 USC §§ 1171-1177 , shall be deemed legal shipments thereof into this commonwealth.
SECTION 75. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Massachusetts gaming commission shall analyze the pari-mutuel and simulcasting statutes in effect as of the effective date of this act. Said analysis shall include a review of the efficacy of said statutes and the need to replace said statutes pursuant to the sunset of chapters 128A and 128C of the General Laws established under this act. Said review shall not include a review of whether to increase the number of running horse, harness horse or greyhound racing meeting licensees. Said commission shall report its finding together with legislation, if any, to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate and to the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies no later than January 1, 2013.
SECTION 76. Section 25 and 27 of this act shall take effect on July 31, 2014.