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December 21, 2024 Clear | 19°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 37: Unlawful conduct or operation of game or gaming device in violation of chapter; employing of unlicensed or unregistered individuals; working without required license or registration; placing of game or gaming device into play or receipt of compensation without permission of commission; conduct or operation of game or gaming device upon expired license; failure to exclude persons placed on excluded persons list; failure to report or pay license fee or tax; penalties

Section 37. (a) Whoever conducts or operates, or permits to be conducted or operated, any game or gaming device in violation of this chapter or the regulations adopted under this chapter shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years, or by a fine not to exceed $25,000, or both, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, by a fine not to exceed $100,000.

(b) Whoever employs, or continues to employ, an individual in a position, the duties of which require a license or registration under this chapter, who is not so licensed or registered, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 6 months or by a fine not to exceed $10,000, or both, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, by a fine not to exceed $100,000.

(c) Whoever works or is employed in a position, the duties of which require licensing or registration under this chapter, without the required license or registration, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 6 months or a fine not to exceed $10,000, or both.

(d) A gaming licensee who, without the permission of the commission: (i) places a game or gaming device into play or displays a game or gaming device in a gaming establishment; or (ii) receives, directly or indirectly, any compensation or reward or any percentage or share of the revenue for keeping, running or carrying on a game, or owning the real property upon, or the location within which any game occurs, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or by a fine not to exceed $25,000, or both, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, by a fine not to exceed $100,000.

(e) Whoever conducts or operates any game or gaming device after the person's gaming license has expired and prior to the actual renewal of the gaming license shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 11/2 years or a fine not to exceed $25,000, or both, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, by a fine not to exceed $100,000.

(f) A gaming licensee who knowingly fails to exclude from the licensee's gaming establishment any person placed by the commission on the list of excluded persons shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $5,000 or by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 1 year, or both, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, by a fine not to exceed $100,000.

(g) Whoever willfully: (i) fails to report, pay or truthfully account for and pay over a license fee or tax imposed by this chapter or by the regulations adopted under this chapter; or (ii) evades or defeats, or attempts to evade or defeat, a license fee or tax or payment of a license fee or tax shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or in the house of correction for not more than 21/2 years or a fine not to exceed $100,000, or both, and in the case of a person other than a natural person, by a fine not to exceed $5,000,000.