An Act To Extend the Number of Days Nonprofit Organizations Are Allowed To Operate Games of Chance
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0547
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Sponsors: DIAMOND, CEBRA, PATRICK, MITCHELL, PLOWMAN, BLANCHETTE, FISHER, MOORE, PINKHAM, TUTTLE, VALENTINO
Amends: 17 MRSA §332

Legislative Document 
No. 547 
S.P. 173 
In Senate, February 3, 2005 
An Act To Extend the Number of Days Nonprofit Organizations Are 
Allowed To Operate Games of Chance 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed . 
Presented by Senator DIAMOND of Cumberland. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Representative CEBRA of Naples, Representative PATRICK of Rumford and 
Senators: MITCHELL of Kennebec, PLOWMAN of Penobscot, Representatives: 
BLANCHETTE of Bangor, FISHER of Brewer, MOORE of Standish, PINKHAM of 
Lexington Township, TUTTLE of Sanford, VALENTINO of Saco. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, many nonprofit organizations hold carnivals 
and 
fairs at which games. of chance are operated as a means to raise 
money for the nonprofit organization; and 
Whereas, current law restricts to 2 days the length of time 
that a nonprofit organization may operate a game of chance, which 
places an undue burden on those organizations that operate their 
fund-raising activities for more than 2 days; and 
Whereas, 
most 
nonprofit 
organizations 
hold 
their 
fund-raising activities in the summer months, before the usual 
effective date for nonemergency legislation; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §332, sub-§4, ,B, as amended by PL 1999, c. 
295, §1, is further amended to read: 
B. 
No 
other licensee may 
operate 
a 
game 
of chance 
on 
premises to which the general public has access. 
In any 
room where a licensed game of chance is being conducted, 
there must be at least one member of the licensee present in 
that room for every 2 nonmembers who are present. 
That 
member must have been a member of the licensee for at least 
one year. 
A member of the licensee, either directly or 
through another member or guest, 
may not stake or risk 
something of value in the licensee I s game of chance unless 
the member has been a member, as defined in section 330, 
subsection 3-B, of the licensee for at least 14 days not 
including the day of admission into membership. 
A bona fide nonprofit organization may operate a licensed 
game of chance to which the general public has accessr once 
every 3 months for a period not to exceed 6 1. consecutive 
days. 
The licensed game of chance may be operated at any 
location described in the license and may be conducted only 
by members of the licensee. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
Page l-LRI041(1) 
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SUMMARY 
This bill extends from 2 days to 3 days the length of time 
that a bona fide nonprofit organization may operate a licensed 
game of chance .