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Notice is hereby provided that in accordance with G.L. c. 30A § 2, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (“Commission”) will convene a public hearing for purposes of gathering comments, ideas, and information relative to the proposed adoption of regulations. The regulations were promulgated pursuant to G.L. c. 128A § 9, as part of the Commission’s regulatory process, and concern the following regulations:

• 205 CMR 3.13: Licensee: duties and obligations – The proposed language to Section 3.13(13) would require a warning light system of green, yellow, and red beacon style lights and sirens in the event of an accident and also assigns the duties of the judges to monitor, control and trigger the accident warning lights to indicate to the drivers to proceed with caution if yellow, cease racing if red, and an “all clear” green light to signal for warm ups and live racing to continue.
• 205 CMR 3.15: Owners – The proposed modification to Section 3.15(3) would place a limit for an owner to have or employ no more than two trainers on the grounds of the Association without approval of the Board of Judges.
• 205 CMR 3.21: Trainers – The proposed language in Section 3.21(8) would require that the trainer ensures that specific equipment is secured properly, namely the buckles on front hobble hangers and driving line buckles attached to the bit as well as side straps on number pads are required to be taped, for all races.
• 205 CMR 3.23: Claiming Races – The proposed language in Section 3.23(12) instructs when a claim should be voided if a horse dies on the track or suffers an injury which requires euthanasia of the horse while the horse is on the racetrack. The proposed language in Section 3.23(13) instructs when a claim is voidable for a period of up to thirty (30) minutes after the race is made official at the discretion of the new owner for any horse vanned off track, sent to the detention barn and observed to be lame, or on the veterinarian’s list for Epistaxis.
• 205 CMR 3.32: Testing – Proposed language in Section 3.32(3)(k) sets out the different scenarios that can occur when a sample is tested and when there is a request for a split sample. It further clarifies the standard presumption if the referee laboratory is unable to reach a valid testing conclusion or if the split sample was not of sufficient quantity for the referee laboratory to reach a valid testing conclusion.
• 205 CMR 3.33: Postmortem Examinations – The proposed changes to section 205 CMR 3.33(6) would require a mortality review after the death of a horse, to be conducted by the Director of Racing. The Director of Racing’s primary role would be to gather information surrounding the death of each racehorse and to ultimately arrive, if possible, at conclusions and recommendations to the appropriate entity or person.

Scheduled hearing date and time: Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 9:30 AM EST

• Notice of Public Hearing – 5.27.25

Pursuant to chapter 2 of the session acts of 2025, Governor Healey extended a limited relief from certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law which was first implemented to protect the health and safety of the public and individuals interested in attending public meetings during the global Coronavirus pandemic. In keeping with the guidance provided, the Commission will conduct this hearing utilizing remote collaboration technology.

CONFERENCE CALL NUMBER: 1-646-741-5292
PARTICIPANT CODE: 111 754 7773

A complete copy of the draft regulations referenced above may be downloaded by visiting www.massgaming.com, clicking on ‘Regulations and Compliance’ and selecting the ‘Proposed Rulemaking’ Section. Anyone wishing to offer comments on these regulations can email Melanie.Foxx@massgaming.gov and request the virtual hearing link to appear and speak. Alternatively, written comments may also be submitted to the same email address with ‘Regulation Comment’ in the subject line.

Comments must be received by 5:00 PM EST on May 26, 2025.