Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 271 § 20

Current through Chapter 231 of the 2024
Section 271:20 - Tickets, memoranda, books and sheets as nuisance; possession unlawful; possession and concealment as evidence

All lottery, policy or pool tickets, slips or checks, memoranda of any combination or other bet, manifold or other policy or pool books or sheets, are hereby declared a common nuisance and the possession thereof unlawful; and the possession of any such article, or of any other implements, apparatus or materials of any other form of gaming, shall be prima facie evidence of their use, by the person having them in possession, in the form of gaming in which like articles are commonly used. Any such article found upon the person of one lawfully arrested for violation of any law relative to lotteries, policy lotteries or policy, the buying or selling of pools or registering of bets or other form of gaming shall be competent evidence upon the trial of a complaint or indictment to which it may be relevant. If a person so arrested in a building or structure or part thereof conceals or attempts to conceal such articles upon his person or elsewhere, the possession and concealment or attempt at concealment thereof shall be prima facie evidence that the place in which the same occurs is kept, maintained, used or occupied for the form of gaming in which like articles are commonly used. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a gaming establishment licensed under chapter 23K from posting, advertising or displaying materials relevant to its gaming operations. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an operator licensed under chapter 23N from posting, advertising or displaying materials relevant to its sports wagering operations.

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 271, § 20

Amended by Acts 2022, c. 173,§ 20, eff. 8/10/2022.
Amended by Acts 2011, c. 194,§ 63, eff. 2/20/2012.