An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Bingo
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0915
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Sponsors: EDGECOMB, SCHNEIDER, AYOTTE, LANSLEY
Amends: 17 MRSA §317, 17 MRSA §326, 17 MRSA §335

Legislative Document 
No. 915 
H.P.690 
House of Representatives, March 1, 2007 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Bingo 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative EDGECOMB of Caribou. 
Cosponsored by Senator SCHNEIDER of Penobscot and 
/J'l~ frJ.1l/ac~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: AYOTTE of Caswell, LANSLEY of Sabattus, McFADDEN of Dennysville. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 17 MRS A §314-B, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 197, §4, is amended 
to read: 
2. Prizes. Notwithstanding the prize limits in section 317, an organization operating 
a winner-take-all round under this section shall pay all proceeds from each winner-take-
all round as prizes, provided except no winner receives may receive more than $.§.OO 
$750. 
Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §317, first~, as amended by PL 1999, c. 74, §2, is further 
amended to read: 
The Chief of the State Police has the power to adopt rules, not inconsistent with law, 
that are necessary for the administration and enforcement of this chapter and for the 
licensing, conduct and operation of the amusement commonly known as "Beano" or 
"Bingo" and for the permitting and operation of commercial beano halls. 
The Chief of 
the State Police has the power and authority to regulate, supervise and exercise general 
IS 
control over the operation of such amusement and commercial beano halls, including, but 
not limited to, the payment of prizes and the use of equipment. Afly A rule adopted by the 
Chief of the State Police concerning the value of prizes that may be awarded must include 
a provision that no single prize may exceed $400 in value and that no more than $-l,4OO 
$2,000 in total prizes may be awarded on anyone occasion. In establishing soofl rules, 
which are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A 2-A, 
the Chief of the State Police mttSt shall, in addition to the standards set forth in other 
provisions of this chapter, use the following standards setting forth conduct, conditions 
and activity considered undesirable: 
Sec. 3. 17 MRSA §326, sub-§I-A, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 45, §3, is amended 
to read: 
I-A. Payment of proceeds. An organization licensed to operate beano or bingo and 
Lucky 7 games in conjunction with beano or bingo may use the proceeds or part of the 
proceeds to: 
A. 
Pay salaries, wages or remuneration to any person directly involved in operating 
beano, bingo or Lucky 7 games; 
B. 
Defray the expenses or part of the expenses that further the purpose for which 
the organization is formed except that proceeds may not he: 
(1) Used to purchase alcohol or to defray the cost of activities where alcohol is 
served; or 
(2) Paid directly to organization members except as specifically allowed in this 
subsection; aRd 
C. 
Defray the expenses or part of the expenses of a member, auxiliary member, 
officer or employee of the organization for a serious illness, injury or casualty loss if 
the licensee makes an application and the application is approved by the licensing 
division within the Bureau of State Police. 
(1) An application must be made in the form and contain the information the 
licensing division requires. 
(a) In the case of serious illness or injUly, the licensing division may require 
certification by a licensed physician setting out the facts in support of the 
application. 
(b) 
In the case of a casualty loss, the licensing division may require 
statements or reports from a law enforcement agency, rescue or other 
emergency services personnel or an insurance agency to support the 
application. 
(c) The licensing division may deny an application if it appears that the 
person who would receive the proceeds has adequate means of financial 
support, including, but not limited to, insurance or workers' compensation 
benefits7; and 
D. Defray the expense of advertising. 
Sec. 4. 17 MRSA §335, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 45, §7, is amended 
to read: 
2-A. Exceptions. Notwithstanding subsection 1, a licensee may payor use the 
proceeds of a game of chance to: 
A. 
Defray the expenses or part of the expenses that further the purpose for which 
the organization is formed, except that the proceeds may not be: 
(1) Used to purchase alcohol or to defray the cost of activities where alcohol is 
served; or 
(2) Paid directly to organization members except as specifically allowed in this 
section; aAii 
B. 
Defray the expenses or part of the expenses of a member, auxiliary member, 
officer or employee of the organization for a serious illness, injury or casualty loss if 
the licensee makes an application pursuant to this section and the application is 
approved by the licensing division within the Bureau of State Police. 
(1) An application must be made in the form and contain the information the 
licensing division requires. 
(a) In the case of serious illness or injury, the licensing division may require 
certification by a licensed physician in support of the application. 
(b) 
In the case of a casualty loss, the licensing division may require 
statements or reports from a law enforcement agency, rescue or other 
emergency services personnel or an insurance agency to support the 
application. 
(c) The licensing division may deny an application if it appears that the 
person who would receive the proceeds has adequate means of financial 
support, including, but not limited to, insurance or workers' compensation 
bcnefits7; and 
C. Defray the expense of advertising. 
SUMMARY 
This bill increases the stakes in a winner-take-all round of bingo from $500 to $750. 
The bill also increases the value of a single prize in a game of bingo from $1,400 to 
$2,000. The bill also allows an organization licensed to operate beano or bingo games to 
use part of the proceeds to defray the expense of advertising.