MontanaHB 66869th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET

Revising alcohol law to prohibit certain licensees from offering gambling

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

More alcohol licenses can offer gambling

More alcohol-serving businesses can run gambling if they meet state gambling rules. Eligible licenses now include retail beer and wine, retail all‑beverages, and resort all‑beverages. Beer‑and‑wine licenses outside an incorporated city or town also qualify, no matter when issued. A 16‑4‑105 license first issued before Oct. 1, 1997 keeps eligibility when the state transfers it. Lessees with a gambling operator license, and transferees or qualified purchasers operating while approval is pending, can get gambling permits.

Some alcohol licenses cannot offer gambling

Some alcohol license holders cannot offer gambling. A retail all‑beverages license transferred after July 1, 2007 under 16‑4‑204 is ineligible. Any license issued through the competitive bidding process in 16‑4‑430 is ineligible. New licenses under 16‑4‑201(8)(c) and 16‑4‑105(1)(e) issued after this law takes effect cannot offer gambling. The law takes effect on passage and approval.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Ed Buttrey
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Denley Loge
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 248 • No: 45

House vote • 4/11/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 33 • No: 15

House vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 31 • No: 16

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 91 • No: 8

House vote • 3/6/2025