An Act Concerning High-stakes Beano
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0227
Committee Amendment CA_A_H627 (House)
Amends: 8 MRSA §1001, 17 MRSA §314-A, 17-A MRSA §952

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 188, L.D. 227, Bill, "An Act 
Concerning High-stakes Beano" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §1001, sub-§39, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and 
affected by Pt. B, § 11, is amended to read: 
39. Slot machine. "Slot machine" means any mechanical, electrical or electronic 
device, contrivance or machine or other device, contrivance or machine that is available 
to play upon insertion of money or a token, credit or similar object or thing of value, the 
play of which by the element of chance may deliver or entitle the person playing the 
device, contrivance or machine to receive cash, tokens or credits to be exchanged for 
cash, merchandise or anything of value, whether the payoff is made automatically from 
the device, contrivance or machine or in any other manner, and includes progressive 
electronic gaming devices with a payoff that increases as the electronic gaming device is 
played. "Slot machine" does not include an electronic beano terminal, as defined in Title 
17, section 314-A, subsection 5-A, paragraph A, operated by a federally recognized 
Indian tribe authorized to conduct high-stakes electronic beano in accordance with Title 
17, section 3l4-A. 
Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §314-A, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 1991, c. 426, 
§4, is repealed. 
Sec. 3. 17 MRSA §314-A, sub-§3-A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §5 and 
affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed. 
Sec. 4. 17 MRSA §314-A, sub-§3-B, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 410, §l, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 5. 17 MRSA §314-A, sub-§5-A is enacted to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 188, L.D. 227 
5-A. High-stakes electronic beano. A federally recognized Indian tribe other than 
the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or the Passamaquoddy Tribe licensed under this 
section may operate high-stakes electronic beano as described in this subsection. 
A. As used in this subsection, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following 
terms have the following meanings. 
(1) "Electronic beano system" means the central computer server system that 
electronically generates beano games along with all electronic beano terminals 
that are connected to the central computer server system. 
(2) "Electronic beano terminal" means an electronic device used by a beano 
participant to play high-stakes electronic beano. An electronic beano terminal 
allows a participant, upon payment of cash, a token or credit, to playa game of 
chance resembling beano from a draw of no more than 75 letters and numbers 
that correspond to the electronic beano game. 
The element of chance is 
determined by a central computer server system that communicates with the 
electronic beano terminal. 
(3) "High-stakes electronic beano" means a game of beano that is played on an 
electronic beano terminal that is connected to a central computer server system 
that electronically generates beano games. 
B. Notwithstanding section 311, subsection 1, high-stakes electronic beano is not 
required to be a group game. 
C. A federally recognized Indian tribe authorized to operate high-stakes electronic 
beano may operate up to 300 electronic beano terminals. 
D. High-stakes electronic beano is played in the following manner: 
(1) 
The participant inserts cash, a token or credit into the electronic beano 
terminal; 
(2) The participant selects the denomination of beano card to be played; and 
(3) The participant presses a button to begin play. 
A draw of no more than 75 letters and numbers generated by the electronic beano 
system is electronically applied to the beano card displayed on the electronic beano 
terminal. 
Participants win prizes by achieving predetermined beano patterns within a 
predetermined number of drawn letters and numbers. 
E. 
An electronic beano terminal must clearly display the manner in which a 
participant wins prizes before any high-stakes electronic beano game is played. 
F. 
An electronic beano terminal must offer electronic beano cards of varying 
denominations. Any game-winning beano pattern may be used. 
G. An electronic beano terminal may use electronic displays on the screen for the 
purposes of entertainment as long as the displays have no effect on the outcome of 
the high-stakes electronic beano game. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 188, L.D. 227 
H. An electronic beano terminal may accept cash, tokens, cards or vouchers for the 
purchase of electronic beano cards but may not dispense cash to a participant. 
I. A prize awarded for winning a high-stakes electronic beano game must be in the 
form of a voucher that may be redeemed for cash or prizes. 
J. An electronic beano system must be tested to ensure that the game is conducted 
and prizes are awarded in the manner displayed to a participant on the electronic 
beano terminal. 
Testing must be conducted by an independent testing company 
contracted by a federally recognized Indian tribe authorized to operate high-stakes 
electronic beano prior to the electronic beano system's being used in high-stakes 
electronic beano games. The testing company shall provide audits of the electronic 
beano system upon request of the Chief of the State Police. The tribe shall ensure a 
method of secure access to the central computer server system via the Internet by the 
Chief of the State Police for the pumoses of conducting audits and monitoring the 
operation and play of high-stakes electronic beano. Any software, equipment or 
training necessary for the Chief of the State Police to use the auditing and monitoring 
system must be paid for by the tribe. An independent testing company may not be a 
distributor or vendor of an electronic beano terminal or a central computer server 
system. 
Sec. 6. 17-A MRSA §952, sub-§5-A, ~C, as amended by PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. B, 
§ 11, is further amended to read: 
C. That is not a machine that a person may lawfully operate pursuant to a l~cense that 
has been issued under Title 17, chapter 62, a machine used to play high-stakes 
electronic beano pursuant to a license issued under Title 17, chapter 13-A or £I: 
machine that is operated by the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, 
Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations; and' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, replaces the bill. 
The amendment authorizes the Penobscot Nation and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to 
use electronic beano terminals for the operation of high-stakes electronic beano. The 
amendment specifies that an electronic beano terminal is not a slot machine or an illegal 
gambling machine. An electronic beano terminal plays a game of chance resembling a 
beano game using a draw of no more than 75 letters and numbers that correspond to the 
game. The element of chance is determined by a central computer server system that is 
subject to testing by an independent testing company and to which the Chief of the State 
Police is provided access via the Internet for the purpose of conducting audits. 
An 
electronic beano terminal is not permitted to dispense cash or prizes. Instead, prizes for 
high-stakes electronic beano are awarded by voucher. The amendment also clarifies that, 
unlike traditional beano, beano conducted on an electronic beano terminal is not required 
to be a group game. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 02/07114 frac:.. 
LD227 
LR 167(02) 
An Act Concerning High-stakes Beano 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '11' (It ~-bd'7) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Additional costs to the Department of Public Safety associated with increased monitoring and enforcement can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0167(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1