Code of Massachusetts Regulations
940 CMR - OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Title 940 CMR 12.00 - Regulations Governing Raffles
Section 12.01 - Definitions

Prize. Any item or items chosen by a sponsoring organization as the subject of a raffle, which the organization announces it will award to a person selected by chance from among those purchasing tickets to the raffle.

Qualified Member. For the purposes of eligibility to participate in managing or otherwise assisting in the operation of a raffle, a person is a bona fide member of the licensed organization only when he or she:

(a) Has become a member prior to the commencement of the function and such membership was not dependent upon, or in any way related to the payment of consideration to participate in, any gambling activity; and

(b) Has held full and regular membership status in the licensed organization for a period of not less than three consecutive months prior to the subject function; and

(c) Has paid any reasonable initiation or admission fees for membership, and/or any dues, consistent with the nature and purpose of the licensed organization and with the type of membership obtained and is not in arrears in payment of any such fees or dues; and

(d) Has met all other conditions required by the licensed organization for membership and is in all respects a member in good standing at the time of the subject function.

A person may also be a bona fide member of a bona fide charitable or bona fide nonprofit organization affiliated with or auxiliary to his or her licensed organization, or to which his or her own licensed organization is auxiliary, when he or she meets all of the standards set out above respecting his or her own licensed organization.

Related Party. Includes:

(a) An officer, director, or trustee (or an individual having powers or responsibilities similar to those of officers, directors, or trustees) of the organization.

(b) A spouse other than a spouse who is legally separated from the individual under a decree of divorce or separate maintenance; a child including legally adopted children; grandchildren; parents; and grandparents of parties described in 940 CMR 12.01(1).

(c) A corporation, trust, estate or partnership more than 35% of which is owned or held by any of the preceding.

Sponsoring Organization. Any organization conducting a raffle pursuant to a license under M.G.L. c. 271, § 7A to conduct raffles.