An Act Regarding Gaming
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0516
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: LUCHINI, CYRWAY, MONAGHAN, SAUCIER, TURNER, PATRICK
Amends: 8 MRSA §374

Legislative Document 
No. 516 
H.P. 355 
House of Representatives, February 24, 2015 
An Act Regarding Gaming 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative LUCHINI of Ellsworth. 
Cosponsored by Senator CYRWAY of Kennebec and 
Representatives: MONAGHAN of Cape Elizabeth, SAUCIER of Presque Isle, TURNER of 
Burlington, Senator: PATRICK of Oxford. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the laws governing the Maine State Lottery are vague with regard to the 
authority of the State Liquor and Lottery Commission to conduct certain games of 
chance; and 
Whereas, the Legislature should have the opportunity to provide input if the 
commission intends to offer games of chance to the public in a manner substantially 
different from the way lottery tickets and shares are currently sold to the public; and 
Whereas, information has been presented that indicates the commission intends, 
within the next 6 months, to offer games of chance in a manner substantially different 
from the way lottery tickets and shares are currently sold; 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.  8 MRSA §374, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 505, §2, is amended to 
read: 
The commission shall meet with the director, not less than once each month, to 
promulgate adopt and amend rules, subject to the approval of the commissioner, relating 
to the lotteries; to make recommendations and set policy for state lotteries and to transact 
other business that may be properly brought before the commission.  Lotteries under this 
section may include, but are not limited to, draw games in which the prize paid to a 
winning player is calculated as a share of the prize pool but may not include draw games 
in which a player wins a set prize amount based on the wager made by the player and in 
which the operator keeps all losing wagers, as with the draw game commonly known as 
keno.  Rules adopted by the commission shall must be adopted in a manner consistent 
with the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill clarifies the authority of the State Liquor and Lottery Commission with 
regard to the conduct of lotteries.  It provides that lotteries may include draw games in 
which the prize paid is calculated as a share of the prize pool but may not include draw 
games, such as keno, in which the player wins a set prize amount based on the wager 
made by the player.