An Act To Enhance Fund-raising Opportunities by Certain Nonprofit and Fraternal Organizations
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0831
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Sponsors: FITTS, BRIGGS, SHERMAN, CLARK, COTTA, MILLETT, PINKHAM, SHAW, WESTON
Amends: 17 MRSA §331, 17 MRSA §332

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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E LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 831 . 
H.P.567 
House of Representatives, March 3, 2009 
An Act To Enhance Fund-raising Opportunities by Certain 
Nonprofit and Fraternal Organizations 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative FITTS of Pittsfield. 
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MILLICENTM. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representative BRIGGS of Mexico, Senator SHERMAN of Aroostook and 
Representatives: CLARK of Millinocket, COTTA of China,. HANLEY of Gardiner, MILLETT 
of Waterford, PINKHAM of Lexington Township, SHAW of Standish, Senator: WESTON of 
Waldo. 
Printed on ~cr:yclcd papt:r 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §331, suh-§l, as amended by PL 1975, c. 740, §5, is further 
. amended to read: 
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41. License required. We A person, firm, corporation, associ.ation or organization 
shall· may not hold, conduct or operate a game of chance within the State unless a license 
therefor is obtained from the Chief of the State Police, eF--tl:le except that organizations 
may conduct or operate games of chance without a license when the total amount of 
money collected in entry fees, chances or wagers for anyone event is less than $10,000 
and the organization has collected no more than' $15,000 in entry fees, chances or wagers· 
in a calendar year. A game of chance that constitutes "social gambling" as that term is 
defined by Title 17-A, section 952, subsection 8 does not require a license or notification 
as required by this subsection. An organization wanting to conduct a game of chance that 
does not require a license and is within the limits described in this subsection shall notify 
14. 
the.Chief of the State Police-no less than 5 business days prior.to conducting the game of 
chance and provide the name and tax identification number of the organization 
conducting the game and the time, date and location of the event and shall submit a $30 
registration fee. 
Sec. 2.17 MRSA §332, sub-§l, as amended by PL 2005, c. 563, §14, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Organizations eligible. Notwithstanding any other provisions provision of law, 
and in accordance with section 331, subsection 1, the Chief of the State Police may issue 
a license to operate a glime of chance to an agricultural society eligible for a stipend 
under Title 7, chapter 4, or to a bona fide nonprofit charitable, educational, political, 
civic, recreational, fraternal, patriotic or religious organization, or to a volunteer fire 
department or to an auxiliary of any of these organizations, any of which must be 
founded, chartered or organized in this State for a period of not less than 2 consecutive 
years before applying for a license. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that organizations may· conduct games of chance without a license 
if they collect no more than $15,000 in entry fees, chances or wagers in a calendar year. 
An unlicensed game of chance event is limited to $10,000 in entry fees, chances or 
wagers: An organization cond~cting a game of chance without a license must still 
register its name and tax identification number and the time, date and location of the 
event with the Chief of the State Police: The registration fee is $30. 
Pa~e 1 - 124LRlS03(Ol)-1 
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