This bill provides municipalities with the option to vote on whether to prohibit games of chance, including keno, within their boundaries. It establishes that keno will be automatically permitted unless a municipality votes to prohibit it, and outlines the necessary voting process, which includes public hearings and specific ballot wording. If a municipality chooses to prohibit games of chance, it can still allow a limited number of charitable gaming events each year. Additionally, the bill requires the lottery commission to maintain a list of municipalities that have opted out of games of chance or keno.

The bill also amends existing laws related to charitable gaming licensing fees and reporting requirements. It removes the stipulation that the lottery commission can only administer gaming in municipalities that have voted to allow it, instead stating that licenses for keno and games of chance will not be issued in municipalities that have voted to prohibit them. The bill increases licensing fees for various gaming-related licenses and eliminates the annual filing requirement for changes in license applications, requiring immediate notification to the commission for any criminal offenses. Licensees must now inform the commission of any changes by the end of their birthday month and report any arrests or convictions immediately. The effective dates for different sections of the act are set for June 1, 2027, and July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
As Amended by the Senate: 284:42, 284:45, 287-D:7, 287-D:8, 287-D:9, 287-D:10, 287-D:13
Version adopted by both bodies: 284:42, 284:45, 287-D:7, 287-D:8, 287-D:9, 287-D:10, 287-D:13
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 284:42, 284:45, 287-D:7, 287-D:8, 287-D:9, 287-D:13