An Act To Establish a Competitive Bid Process for Future Casinos and Slot Machine Facilities
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1897
Committee Amendment CA_A_H919 (House)
Amends: 8 MRSA §1011, 8 MRSA §1018

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1400, L.D. 1897, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish a Competitive Bid Process for Future Casinos and Slot Machine Facilities" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act Regarding the Issuance of Licenses by the Gambling Control Board and To 
Establish a Competitive Bidding Process for Future Operation of Slot Machines and 
Table Games in the State' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §1011, sub-§2-B is enacted to read: 
2-B. Licenses for a slot machine facility or casino issued on or after September 
1,2012. Beginning September 1, 2012, the board may not accept any application for an 
initial license to operate a slot machine facility or casino or any other gambling facility 
for which the board has licensing authority where slot machines or table games may be 
operated. This subsection does not apply to a casino licensed for operation in the State as 
of September 1, 2012. 
Sec.2. 8 MRSA §1018, sub-§l-A is enacted to read: 
I-A. Fees for slot machine and casino operator licenses on or after September 1, 
2012. Notwithstanding subsection 1, paragraphs C and C-1, beginning September 1, 
2012, an applicant for a slot machine operator license or a casino operator license must 
pay a $250,000 nonrefundable privilege fee to be submitted with the application for the 
license and a minimum license fee, or cash bid if the license is part of a competitive 
bidding process established by law, of $5,000,000. This subsection does not apply to a 
casino licensed for operation in the State as of September 1, 2012. 
Sec. 3. Commission established to develop a competitive bidding process 
for the operation of additional casinos or slot machine facilities. 
Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the Commission To Develop a Competitive Bidding 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1400, L.D. 1897 
Process for the Operation of Additional Casinos or Slot Machine Facilities, known in this 
section as "the commission," is established as follows. 
1. Membership. The membership of the commission is as follows: 
A. Two Senators who are not enrolled in the same political party and who serve on 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over casino 
matters appointed by the President of the Senate; 
B. Two members of the House of Representatives who are not enrolled in the same 
political party and who serve on the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over casino matters appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
C. One representative from each federally recognized Indian tribe in the State who 
expresses interest in serving on the commission appointed by the President of the 
Senate; 
D. A representative of charitable nonprofit organizations, as described in the federal 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, Sections 501(c)(8) and 501(c)(10), in the State that 
conduct beano or games of chance appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
E. A representative of veterans' service organizations in the State that conduct beano 
or games of chance appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
F. A representative of the harness horse racing industry in the State appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
G. An operator or representative of a commercial harness horse racing track in the 
State that is not authorized to operate slot machines appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; 
H. An off-track betting facility operator licensed in the State appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
1. An operator or representative of each casino licensed in the State appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; 
J. 
An economist or consultant with experience studying the gambling industry 
appointed by the President of the Senate; and 
K. Representatives from 2 groups who represent those who oppose the expansion of 
gambling in the State, one from a statewide religious organization, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House. 
2. Appointments; cochairs. Appointments to the commission must be made by 
February 1, 2013. 
The first-named Senate member and the first-named House of 
Representatives member are cochairs of the commission. 
3. Commission duties. The commission shall examine the impact of existing casinos 
on local economies and the state economy overall and any impacts on other forms of 
legal gambling conducted within the State. The commission shall examine the impact of 
the establishment of casinos or similar facilities in the states of New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts and neighboring provinces in Canada on the state economy and on the 
revenue generated by existing casinos in the State. The commission shall also gather 
information to determine the potential market for the establishment of new gambling 
opportunities in the State. The commission shall consider the feasibility of the licensing 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,~ " to H.P. 1400, L.D. 1897 
of expanded gambling activities by persons or groups who are eligible for existing 
licenses to conduct games of chance, beano, high-stakes beano, harness horse racing and 
off-track betting, including but not limited to the operation of slot machines and table 
games. 
The commission shall develop recommendations for a competitive bidding 
process for the privilege to submit an application to the Department of Public Safety, 
Gambling Control Board for the operation of a slot machine facility or a casino. The 
recommendation for a competitive bidding process must include a minimum 
nonrefundable application privilege fee of $250,000 as provided in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 8, section 1018, subsection I-A. The recommendation must also include a 
minimum cash bid or license fee of $5,000,000 in order to submit an application to the 
Gambling Control Board for an initial license to operate a slot machine facility or a 
casino. 
4. Meetings; compensation. The commission shall hold no more than 6 meetings. 
The commission may seek comment from members of the public to assist in the 
development of the recommendations required by subsection 3. Legislative members are 
entitled to receive the legislative per diem and reimbursement of necessary expenses for 
their attendance at authorized meetings of the commission when the Legislature is not in 
session. 
5. Report and legislation. By February 15, 2014, the commission shall submit a 
report based on its findings under subsection 3, including any recommendations for 
legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
casino matters, which is authorized to report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of 
the 126th Legislature. 
6. Staff. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall provide 
staff to the commission. The Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide drafting 
assistance to the commission.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. It prohibits the Department of Public Safety, 
Gambling Control Board from accepting applications or issuing licenses to operate a slot 
machine facility or a casino beginning September 1,2012. It establishes the Commission 
To Develop a Competitive Bidding Process for the Operation of Additional Casinos or 
Slot Machine Facilities, which is made up of Legislators and stakeholders, to consider the 
economic impacts of existing casinos and the development of new casinos and directs the 
commission to develop recommendations for a competitive bidding process for slot 
machine facilities and casinos that may be authorized in the future. 
It establishes a 
nonrefundable application privilege fee of $250,000 for any future slot machine facility 
or casino operator license and sets a minimum license fee, or cash bid if a competitive 
bidding process is established, of $5,000,000. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/04112 Mac.. 
LD 1897 
LR 2845(02) 
An Act To Establish a Competitive Bid Process for Future Casinos and Slot Machine Facilities 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" [t/ -q I Cjj 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - State Lottery Fund 
The estimated costs for the per diem and expenses of the legislative members serving on the Commission to Develop a 
Competitive Bidding Process for the Operation of Additional Casinos or Slot Machine Facilities in the State are 
projected to be $560 in fiscal year 2012-13 and $2,000 in fiscal year 2013-14. The Legislature's proposed budget 
includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2012-13 for legislative studies. Whether this amount is sufficient to fund all studies 
will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services associated with providing staff assistance 
. - -. to the commission can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
. 
LR2845(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1