Section 26. (a) Notwithstanding chapter 138 or any other general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, the commission may grant, upon request of an applicant for a gaming license, a gaming beverage license for the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises of a gaming establishment. The division of gaming liquor enforcement of the alcoholic beverage control commission shall have the authority to enforce, regulate and control the distribution of alcoholic beverages in a gaming establishment.
(b) The fee for the gaming beverage license and any renewals of the license shall be determined by the commission. The application fee shall be remitted with the gaming application fee.
(c) Notwithstanding any regulation to the contrary, a licensee under this section may distribute alcohol free of charge and for on-premises consumption to patrons in the gaming area or as a complimentary service or item in the gaming establishment; provided, however, that the commission, in consultation with the alcoholic beverages control commission, shall promulgate regulations on such distribution and the forms of identification that may be presented to the gaming licensee to demonstrate proof that a person has attained the age of 21; and provided further, that such regulations shall include requirements relative to alcohol training certification for an employee who serves alcohol at a gaming establishment.
(d) The request submitted to the commission for a gaming beverage license by an applicant for a gaming license shall detail all areas where alcoholic beverages will be served within the gaming establishment. In issuing a gaming beverage license, the commission shall describe the scope of the particular license and any restrictions and limitations; provided, however, that the gaming beverage license shall not permit the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages between the hours of 2 a.m. and 8 a.m.
(e) A gaming licensee shall be responsible for violations of the gaming beverage license in the gaming establishment. The commission may revoke, suspend, refuse to renew or refuse to transfer a gaming beverage license for violations of chapter 138 that pertain to the sale and distribution of alcohol consumed on the premises and the regulations adopted by the commission. If, at any time, a gaming licensee elects temporary suspension of its gaming license due to violations of this section, the gaming 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.
(f) A gaming beverage license shall be nontransferable without prior approval from the commission. If the gaming beverage license is cancelled, revoked or no longer in use, it shall be returned physically, with all the legal rights, privileges and restrictions pertaining to the license, 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.
(g) A license granted under this section shall not decrease the number of such licenses authorized to be granted to the host community under chapter 138.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth
Chapter 23k - The Massachusetts Gaming Commission E Fee or Tax; Penalties.
Section 1 - Findings and Declaration
Section 4 - Powers of the Commission
Section 5 - Regulations for the Implementation, Administration and Enforcement of Chapter
Section 6 - Investigations and Enforcement Bureau
Section 8 - Requests for Applications for Category 1 and Category 2 Licenses
Section 9 - Application for Gaming Licenses
Section 12 - Investigation Into Suitability of Applicant for Gaming License
Section 15 - Criteria for Eligibility to Receive Gaming License
Section 16 - Grounds for Denial of Application for License or Registration
Section 18 - Objectives to Be Advanced in Determining Granting of License; Statement of Findings
Section 19 - Issuance of Category 1 Licenses
Section 20 - Issuance of Category 2 License
Section 21 - Form of Gaming License and Conditions for Licensees
Section 25 - Requirements for the Operation and Conduct of Gaming at a Gaming Establishment
Section 27 - Issuance of Credit by Gaming Licensee to Patron of a Gaming Establishment
Section 28 - Complimentary Services, Gifts, Cash, or Other Items of Value
Section 30 - Licensing or Registration of Persons Employed by a Gaming Licensee
Section 39 - Cheating and Swindling; Penalty
Section 40 - Possession of Cheating and Swindling Device or Game; Penalty
Section 44 - Deposit of Penalties Collected Under Chapter
Section 48 - Applicability of Other Laws to Gaming Licensees
Section 53 - Retention and Disposition of Unclaimed Cash and Prizes
Section 54 - Disposition of Cash or Prizes of a Person Under 21 Years of Age
Section 55 - Daily Tax and Assessment Payable by Category 1 and Category 2 Licensees
Section 57 - Massachusetts Gaming Control Fund
Section 58 - Public Health Trust Fund
Section 59 - Gaming Revenue Fund
Section 60 - Race Horse Development Fund
Section 61 - Community Mitigation Fund
Section 62 - Transportation Infrastructure and Development Fund
Section 63 - Gaming Local Aid Fund
Section 65 - Audit of Gaming Licensees