The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is seeking public comment on the following draft regulations:

Please email comments to mgccomments@state.ma.us with ‘draft regulation comment’ in the subject line. Comments must be submitted by Friday, April 8, 2016, at 4:00pm. The Commission will review any comments received, update the draft regulations where appropriate, and hold a public hearing on the matter. The public hearing has been scheduled for April 7, 2016, at 10:00am.

205 CMR 3.00: Harness Horse Racing, 205 CMR 4.00: Rules of Horse Racing

The amendments to these regulations update the helmet requirements, eliminate Stanozolol, and change the thresholds for Nandrolone and Ketoprofen to comply with the Racing Commissioners International (“RCI”) regulations.

205 CMR 133.00:  Voluntary Self-Exclusion.  The amendments govern the responsibilities of the gaming licensees relative to the administration of the voluntary self-exclusion list, including the non-payment and confiscation of winnings or wagering instruments from self-excluded individuals.

205 CMR 143.00:  Gaming Devices and Electronic Gaming Equipment.  The amendments provide that slot machines and other electronic gaming devices may operate any industry standard open communication protocol provided that the system is fully compatible with the Commission’s central monitoring system and capable of providing all data required by the Commission.  The amendment also removes the existing slot machine communication protocol restriction.

205 CMR 149.00:  Race Horse Development Fund.  The amendments to this regulation defines the term Horseman’s Organization and provides for the following:  funds shall be divided between the racing associations at the discretion of the Commission if there are more than one racing association; funds shall be paid upon receipt of an executed purse agreement by the racing association and the horseman’s organization; the Commission shall divide the health and pension benefits evenly between the horseman’s organizations if there are more than one horseman’s organization; and the Commission may distribute less than the entire amount of the funds and any remaining funds shall be available for payment in future years

205 CMR 152.00:  Individuals Excluded from a Gaming Establishment.  The amendments govern the procedures for individuals excluded from a gaming establishment, including notification to individuals of intention to place their names on an exclusion list, opportunity for a hearing, and submission by the gaming licensee of a written policy for compliance with the exclusion list program.

To view the draft regulations, click here:

• 205 CMR 3.11 DRAFT AMENDMENTS
• 205 CMR 3.29 DRAFT AMENDMENTS
• 205 CMR 4.11 DRAFT AMENDMENTS
• 205 CMR 4.52 DRAFT AMENDMENTS
• 205 CMR 133.06 DRAFT AMENDMENTS
• 205 CMR 143.01 and 143.16 DRAFT AMENDMENTS
• 205 CMR 149.01 and 149.04 DRAFT AMENDMENTS
• 205 CMR 152.04, 152.05 and 152.07 DRAFT AMENDMENTS