An Act relative to recreational games at senior centers
This bill amends Massachusetts law to allow low-stakes gambling on specific recreational games like poker, bingo, and bridge at municipal and town senior centers. It directly affects senior citizens and the organizations that host these games by defining strict limits, such as capping individual winnings at $20 and requiring that all money wagered be returned to players by the end of the session. The legislation also clarifies that no one may profit from organizing these games except for the players' own winnings, while explicitly stating that playing in such games is not a criminal offense.
Bill status
passed
3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
House Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023
Last action Feb 8, 2024
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the House. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 16, 2023
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on The Judiciary
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
John Velis
DDemocratic
Co
Angelo Puppolo
DDemocratic
Co
Kelly Pease
RRepublican
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