An Act To Update and Clarify the Laws Governing Raffles
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1268
Committee Amendment CA_A_S67 (Senate)
Amends: 17 MRSA §1832, 17 MRSA §1834

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 388, L.D. 1268, Bill, "An Act To 
Update and Clarify the Laws Governing Raffles" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the enacting clause and before section 1 the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §1832, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§15, is further amended to read: 
1. License or registration required. A Except as provided in section 1837-A, a 
person, firm, corporation, association or organization may not hold, conduct or operate a 
game of chance without a license issued by or, as applicable, without registering with the 
Gambling Control Unit in accordance with this section. A license is not required when a 
game of chance constitutes social gambling. 
Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §1834, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§16, is further amended to read: 
2. Operation of games of chance. Except for electronic video games as provided in 
this section, the registration fee for a license or registration to operate a game of chance is 
$15 for each week computed on a Monday to Sunday basis or for a portion of a week, 
The fee for a license issued, $60 for a calendar month is $60 and the fee for licenses 
issued or $700 for a calendar year is $700. 
The Gambling Control Unit may issue any combination of weekly or monthly licenses for 
the operation of games of chance. Registration to conduct any authorized game of chance 
may be issued for a period ofup to 12 months on one application.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1837-A in subsection 3 in the first line (page 1, line 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
"of $2,501 to $10,000" and inserting the 
following: 'greater than $2,500 but not greater than $10,000' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1837-A in subsection 3 in the 4th line (page 1, line 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "$2,501" and inserting the following: '~ 
$2,500' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"/+ "to S.P. 388, L.D. 1268 { $-ltl-1) 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1837-A by striking out all of subsection 4 (page 1, 
lines 31 to 41 and page 2, lines 1 and 2 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'4. Raffle with a noncash prize of up to $75,000 or a cash prize of up to $20,000 
conducted by eligible organization. An eligible organization as described in section 
1832, subsection 2 may register with the Gambling Control Unit to conduct a raffle in 
which the total value of the prize offered or prizes awarded to the holder of the~ winning 
chance or to the holders of the winning chances does not exceed $75,000 upon the 
asseptanse of a registration by the Gambling Control Unit. The registration must state a 
verifiable sharitable purpose for 1.vhish the pro seeds of the raffle are dedisated to benefit. 
If the raffle is sondusted in a manner in vll1ish there are multiple 1.vmning shanses, the 
total value of all prizes offered may not exseed a value of $75,000. A nonsash prize for a 
raffle sondusted under this subsestion may not be exshanged for sash. The total amount 
of sash prizes that may be aM'arded for a raffle sondusted under this subsestion may not 
exseed $20,000 with no more than one $10,000 prize for the holder of a v!inning chance. 
An eligible organization may not conduct more than one raffle under this subsection in a 
month period.~ 
A. Seventy-five thousand dollars that is not in the form of cash and may not be 
exchanged for cash; or 
B. Twenty thousand dollars in cash, with no more than one $10,000 cash prize for 
the holder of a winning chance. 
At the time of registration, the eligible organization shall state a verifiable charitable 
purpose that the proceeds of the raffle are dedicated to benefit.' 
Amend the bill in section 1 in §1837-A by striking out all of subsection 6 (page 2, 
lines 7 to 10 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'6. 
Multiple raffles. 
An eligible organization as described in section 1832, 
subsection 2 may conduct more than one raffle at a time that meet the requirements of 
subsections 2-A. 3 and 4, except that an eligible organization may not conduct more than 
one registered raffle at the same time 'under subsection 4, paragraph A and may not 
conduct more than one registered raffle at the same time under subsection 4, paragraph B. 
This subsection does not prevent an eligible organization from conducting one registered 
raffle under subsection 4, paragraph A at the same time that the eligible organization 
conducts one registered raffle under subsection 4, paragraph B. 
When an eligible 
organization conducts multiple raffles as permitted by this subsection, the eligible 
organization is not required to begin and end those raffles on the same dates.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment clarifies that certain nonprofit organizations, which may register 
with the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Unit to conduct raffles with 
noncash prizes that do not exceed $75,000 in value or raffles with cash prizes that do not 
exceed $20,000 in value, may conduct only one of these registered noncash prize raffles 
and one of these registered cash prize raffles at the same time. 
The amendment 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" IJ- "to S.P. 388, L.D. 1268 [5-la--l) 
eliminates the portion of the bill that allows nonprofit organizations to exchange the 
prizes awarded in a noncash prize raffle for cash prizes. 
The amendment also makes technical changes to the laws governing games of chance 
that clarify the authority of the Gambling Control Unit to issue registrations to 
organizations that conduct raffles, including raffles with noncash prizes of a value greater 
than $2500, and that clarify the weekly, monthly and annual registration fees for all 
games of chance, including raffles. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See att.ached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 04/18/19 feac:.. 
LD 1268 
LR 1549(02) 
An Act To Update and Clarify the Laws Governing Raffles 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 
11\1 1 l ~-ls-1) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Gambling Control Unit within the Depaitment of Public Safety are expected to be minor 
and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. Clarifications to the rnles regulating raffles are expected to 
result in a minor increase in General Fund revenue from additional licenses. 
LR1549(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1