SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2590        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul R. Feeney

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing a standardized problem gambling disclaimer and helpline.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2590        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act establishing a standardized problem gambling disclaimer and helpline.

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 3 of Chapter 23K of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-

(z) The Commission shall, in consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Office of Problem Gambling Services, the Lottery Commission, established pursuant to Section 23 of Chapter 10, and the Office of the Attorney General, shall establish a single standardized disclaimer that 1) warns of the risks of gambling, sportsbetting, and playing the lottery, and 2) contains a single phone number for the MA Gambling Helpline, and 3) provides means to locate other resources made available by the state to help with problem gambling and gambling addiction.  The Commission shall promulgate regulations to require their licensees their licensees’ contractors to use the standardized disclaimer in all advertising.

SECTION 2. Section 24 of Chapter 10 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following words:- "The Lottery Commission shall include the standardized disclaimer, established pursuant to subsection (z) of Section 3 of Chapter 23K, in all its advertisements for lottery products.".