An Act To Allow Cash Prizes for Certain Raf:(les Conducted by Charitable Organizations
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1837
Committee Amendment CA_A_S378 (Senate)
Amends: 17 MRSA §1837-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 689, L.D. 1837, Bill, "An Act To 
Allow Cash Prizes for Certain Raf:(les Conducted by Charitable Organizations" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, recent changes to the laws governing raffles have hampered the ability of 
charitable nonprofits and civic organizations to conduct the types of raffles that generate 
a significant percentage of revenues raised by those organizations in a calendar year;· and 
Whereas, the law must be amended before the expiration of the 90-day period 
because charitable nonprofits and civic organizations use raffles to raise funds for their 
charitable purposes and it is a hardship for those groups to be limited in their fund raising; 
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,1 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §1837-A, sub-§§2 to 4, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. 
KKKKK, §25, are amended to read: 
2. Raffle with a prize of $2,500 or less. A person or organization is not required to 
register with the Gambling Control Unit to conduct a raffle in which the total value of the 
prize offered to the holder of the winning chance does not exceed $-l,()00 $2,500. If the 
raffle is conducted in a manner in which there are multiple winning chances, the total 
value of all prizes offered may not exceed a value of $-l,()00 $2,500. 
3. Raffle with a noncash prize of $2,501 to $10,000. A person or organization may 
conduct a raffle in which the total value of the prize offered to the holder of the winning 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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~~· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 689, L.D. 1837 
chance is greater than $-1,00+ $2,501 and does not exceed $10,000 upon the acceptance of 
a registration by the Gambling Control Unit. The Gambling Control Unit may not accept 
a registration for a raffle under this subsection unless the registration states a verifiable 
charitable purpose for which the proceeds of the raffle are dedicated to benefit. If the 
raffle is conducted in a manner in which there are multiple winning chances, the total 
value of all prizes offered may not exceed a value of $10,000. A prize offered for a raffle 
conducted under this subsection may not be in the form of cash and may not be 
exchanged for cash. 
4. Raffle with a noncash prize up to $75,000 conducted by eligible organization; 
cash prizes up to $20,000. An eligible organization as described in section 1832, 
subsection 2 may conduct a raffle in which the total value of the prize offered to the 
holder of the winning chance does not exceed $75,000 upon the acceptance of a 
registration by the Gambling Control Unit. 
The registration must state a verifiable 
charitable purpose for which the proceeds of the raffle are dedicated to benefit. If the 
raffle is conducted in a manner in which there are multiple winning chances, the total 
value of all prizes offered may not exceed a value of $75,000. A noncash prize for a 
raffle conducted under this subsection may not be in the form of oash and may not be 
exchanged for cash. The total amount of cash prizes that may be awarded for a raffle 
conducted under this subsection may not exceed $20,000 with no more than one $10,000 
prize for the holder of a winning chance. An eligible organization may not conduct more 
than one raffle under this subsection in a 12-month period. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
Current law states that a person or an organization is not required to register with the 
Gambling Control Unit when conducting a raffle with a prize of $1,000 or less. This 
amendment adds provisions to the bill amending the law to increase that prize amount to 
$2,500. The amendment also adds an emergency preamble and an emergency clause to 
the bill. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/05/18 feac 
LD 1837 
LR 2888(02) 
An Act To Allow Cash Prizes for Certain Raffles Conducted by Charitable Organizations 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment'!);' (S- 3 7 8) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Gambling Control Board as a result of changes to the rules allowing certain cash prizes in 
certain raffles conducted by charitable organizations and registration waivers if prizes are within certain amounts are 
anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2888(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1