An Act To Exempt Cribbage and Other Card Games from Licensing and Regulation When Conducted by Certain Organizations
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1493
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Amends: 17 MRSA §1831, 17 MRSA §1832, 17 MRSA §1833-A, 17 MRSA §1834, 17 MRSA §1835, 17 MRSA §1835-A, 17 MRSA §1836, 17 MRSA §1843

Legislative Document
No. 1493
S.P. 456
In Senate, April 4, 2019
An Act To Exempt Cribbage and Other Card Games from 
Licensing and Regulation When Conducted by Certain 
Organizations
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator SANBORN, H. of Cumberland.  (BY REQUEST)
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  17 MRSA §1831, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§4, is amended to read:
1-A.  Card game.  "Card game" means a game of chance conducted played using one 
or more decks of cards, such as poker, blackjack or cribbage.
Sec. 2.  17 MRSA §1831, sub-§1-B is enacted to read:
1-B.  Bona fide charitable organization.  "Bona fide charitable organization" means 
an organization, including an agricultural society, veterans organization, fire department 
or educational, political, civic, recreational, fraternal, patriotic or religious organization, 
that:
A.  Is registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service as an organization 
exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 and has a letter from the United States Internal Revenue Service 
evidencing that exempt status;
B.  Is licensed as a charitable organization pursuant to Title 9, section 5004; and
C.  Is a corporation in good standing with the Secretary of State.
Sec. 3.  17 MRSA §1831, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§8, is further amended to read:
5.  Game of chance.  "Game of chance" means a game, contest, scheme or device in 
which:
A.  A person stakes or risks something of value for the opportunity to win something 
of value;
B.  The rules of operation or play require an event the result of which is determined 
by chance, outside the control of the contestant or participant; and
C.  Chance enters as an element that influences the outcome in a manner that cannot 
be eliminated through the application of skill.
For the purposes of this subsection, "an event the result of which is determined by 
chance" includes but is not limited to a shuffle of a deck of cards, a roll of a die or dice or 
a random drawing or generation of an object that may include, but is not limited to, a 
card, a die, a number or simulations of any of these. A shuffle of a deck of cards, a roll of 
a die, a random drawing or generation of an object or some other event the result of 
which is determined by chance that is employed to determine impartially the initial order 
of play in a game, contest, scheme or device does not alone make a game, contest, 
scheme or device a game of chance.  For purposes of this chapter, beano, bingo and table 
games as defined in Title 8, section 1001, subsection 43-A are not games of chance.
"Game of chance" includes a game of chance and skill conducted by a person that is not a 
bona fide charitable organization.
Sec. 4.  17 MRSA §1831, sub-§5-A is enacted to read:
5-A.  Game of chance and skill.  "Game of chance and skill" means a game in 
which:
A.  A person stakes or risks something of value for the opportunity to win something 
of value;
B.  The rules of operation or play require more than one shuffle and deal of a deck of 
cards, the results of which are determined by chance; and
C.  Both chance and the skillful exercise of judgment influence the outcome of the 
game.
"Game of chance and skill" includes a game played with a standard deck of 52 cards, 
including cribbage and bridge, and a strategy card game or trading card game played with 
nonstandard decks of cards.  "Game of chance and skill" does not include poker, baccarat, 
blackjack or similar casino-style games.
Sec. 5.  17 MRSA §1831, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2, is 
amended to read:
6.  Game of skill.  "Game of skill" means any game, contest, scheme or device in 
which a person stakes or risks something of value for the opportunity to win something of 
value and that is not a game of chance or a game of chance and skill.
Sec. 6.  17 MRSA §1831, sub-§16, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
16.  Social gambling.  "Social gambling" means a game of chance or a game of 
chance and skill played:
A.  In a residence or other noncommercial setting where socialization is the primary 
benefit from playing; or 
B.  In a commercial setting where the person playing does not receive something of 
value from the play or from the venue beyond that of a regular patron.
Sec. 7.  17 MRSA §1832, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§15, is further amended to read:
1.  License required.  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 for social gambling.  
A license is not required when a game of chance and skill is conducted by or for a bona 
fide charitable organization.
Sec. 8.  17 MRSA §1832, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§15, is further amended to read:
2.  Eligible organizations; licenses.  The Gambling Control Unit may issue a license 
to operate a card game and certain tournament games to an organization that submits a 
completed application as described in subsection 5 and has been founded, chartered or 
organized in this State for a period of not less than 2 consecutive years prior to applying 
for a license and is: a corporation in good standing with the Secretary of State.
A.  An agricultural society;
B.  A bona fide nonprofit charitable, educational, political, civic, recreational, 
fraternal, patriotic or religious organization;
C.  A volunteer fire department; or
D.  An auxiliary of any of the organizations in paragraphs A to C.
Sec. 9.  17 MRSA §1832, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§15, is amended to read:
2-A.  Registration.  The Gambling Control Unit may accept a registration from an 
eligible organization described in subsection 2 and other persons as specifically provided 
under section sections 1835-A, section 1836, subsection 4-B and section 1837-A to 
conduct games of chance, and raffles and charitable cribbage tournaments.  An eligible 
organization or person seeking to register to conduct a game of chance, or raffle or 
charitable cribbage tournament shall register in the manner prescribed by the Gambling 
Control Unit and shall maintain records and reports in the same manner as described 
under section 1839, except that disposition of funds reports are not required to be 
submitted to the Gambling Control Unit but must be maintained in the same manner as 
other records. 
Sec. 10.  17 MRSA §1832, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§15, is further amended to read:
3.  Must be 18 years of age.  The Gambling Control Unit may not accept a 
registration to conduct a game of chance, or a raffle or certain tournament games or 
accept an application from or issue a license for card games and certain tournament 
games under this section to a person or representative of an eligible organization who is 
not 18 years of age or older.
Sec. 11.  17 MRSA §1832, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§15, is further amended to read:
5.  Application.  An eligible organization described in subsection 2 seeking to obtain 
a license to conduct a card game or certain tournament games requiring a license shall 
submit an application to the Gambling Control Unit.  The application must be in a form 
provided by the Gambling Control Unit and must be signed by a duly authorized officer 
of the eligible organization. The application must include the full name and address of the 
organization, a full description of the card game or tournament game, the location where 
the card game or tournament game is to be conducted and any other information 
determined necessary by the Gambling Control Unit for the issuance of a license to 
operate a card game or certain tournament games, including but not limited to 
membership lists, bylaws and documentation showing the organization's nonprofit status 
or charitable designation.
Sec. 12.  17 MRSA §1833-A is enacted to read:
§1833-A.  Regulation and exemption of organization conducting game of chance and 
skill
1.  Exemption.  A game of chance and skill that is conducted by a bona fide 
charitable organization is exempt from regulation under this chapter.
2.  Regulation.  For purposes of this chapter, a game of chance and skill that is 
conducted by a person that is not a bona fide charitable organization is subject to the 
same regulation under this chapter as a game of chance.
Sec. 13.  17 MRSA §1834, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§16, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
2.  Operation of games of chance and certain games of chance and skill.  The 
registration fee 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, $60 for a license issued for a calendar month 
and $700 for a license issued for a calendar year.
The Gambling Control Unit may issue any combination of weekly or monthly licenses for 
the operation of a game of chance. Registration to conduct any authorized game of 
chance may be issued for a period of up to 12 months on one application.
For purposes of this subsection, a game of chance and skill that is conducted by a person 
that is not a bona fide charitable organization is deemed a game of chance.
Sec. 14.  17 MRSA §1834, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§16, is further amended to read:
7.  Application.  A license to operate any authorized card game may be issued for a 
period of up to 12 months on one application.  Authority to conduct a game of chance, or 
a raffle or charitable cribbage tournament games pursuant to section 1836, subsection 4-B 
may be granted for a period of up to 12 months on one registration.
Sec. 15.  17 MRSA §1835, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§17, is further amended to read:
3.  Games conducted at agricultural fair by members of the agricultural society 
or a bona fide charitable organization.  Card games operated and conducted solely by 
members of an agricultural society or card games operated and conducted by members of 
bona fide nonprofit charitable organizations on the grounds of the agricultural society and 
during the annual fair of the agricultural society may use cash, tickets, tokens or other 
devices approved by the Gambling Control Unit by rule.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the tickets, tokens or other devices 
approved by the Gambling Control Unit must be unique to the agricultural society and 
may be in denominations of 25¢, 50¢ or $1.  The tickets, tokens or devices approved by 
the Gambling Control Unit may be sold and redeemed only by a person who has been a 
member or active volunteer of the agricultural society for at least 2 fair seasons.  The 
agricultural society has the burden of proof for demonstrating the qualification of 
members or active volunteers.
An agricultural society that uses tokens shall provide records and reports as required by 
section 1839.
Sec. 16.  17 MRSA §1835, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§17, is further amended to read:
5.  Location.  A license issued pursuant to this section must specify the location 
where the organization may operate the licensed card game.  A licensee may not operate 
card games in more than one location at the same time.
A.  An agricultural society or a bona fide nonprofit charitable organization may 
operate a card game on the grounds of an agricultural society and during the annual 
fair of the agricultural society.
B.  No more than one licensee may operate a card game at a time on the same 
premises.  In any room where a licensed card game is being conducted, there must be 
at least one member of the licensee present in that room for every 2 nonmembers who 
are present.  That member must have been a member of the licensee for at least one 
year.  A member of the licensee, either directly or through another member or guest, 
may not stake or risk something of value in the licensee's card game unless the 
member has been a member of the licensee for at least 14 days not including the day 
of admission into membership.
A bona fide nonprofit charitable organization may operate a licensed card game to which 
the general public has access once every 3 months for a period not to exceed 3 
consecutive days.  The licensed card game may be operated at any location described in 
the license and may be conducted only by members of the licensee.  
Sec. 17.  17 MRSA §1835-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. 
KKKKK, §18, is amended to read:
3.  Games conducted at agricultural fair by members of the agricultural society 
or a bona fide charitable organization.  Games of chance operated and conducted 
solely by members of an agricultural society or games of chance operated and conducted 
by members of bona fide nonprofit charitable organizations on the grounds of the 
agricultural society and during the annual fair of the agricultural society may use cash, 
tickets, tokens or other devices approved by the Gambling Control Unit by rule.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the tickets, tokens or other devices 
approved by the Gambling Control Unit must be unique to the agricultural society and 
may be in denominations of 25¢, 50¢ or $1.  The tickets, tokens or devices approved by 
the Gambling Control Unit may be sold and redeemed only by a person who has been a 
member or active volunteer of the agricultural society for at least 2 fair seasons.  The 
agricultural society has the burden of proof for demonstrating the qualification of 
members or active volunteers.
An agricultural society that uses tokens shall provide records and reports as required by 
section 1839.
Sec. 18.  17 MRSA §1835-A, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. 
KKKKK, §18, is amended to read:
5.  Location.  A registration for a game of chance must specify the location where the 
organization may operate the game.  A registrant may not operate games of chance in 
more than one location at the same time.
A.  An agricultural society or a bona fide nonprofit charitable organization may 
operate a game of chance on the grounds of an agricultural society and during the 
annual fair of the agricultural society.
B.  No more than one registrant may operate a game of chance at a time on the same 
premises.  In any room where a registered game of chance is being conducted, there 
must be at least one member of the organization registered to conduct games of 
chance present in that room for every 2 nonmembers who are present.  That member 
must have been a member of the registered organization for at least one year.  A 
member of the organization registered to conduct games of chance, either directly or 
through another member or guest, may not stake or risk something of value in the 
registrant's game of chance unless the member has been a member of the organization 
registered to conduct games of chance for at least 14 days not including the day of 
admission into membership.
A bona fide nonprofit charitable organization may operate a registered game of chance to 
which the general public has access once every 3 months for a period not to exceed 3 
consecutive days.  The game of chance may be operated at any location described in the 
organization's registration and may be conducted only by members of the registrant.  This 
subsection does not apply to raffles conducted in accordance with section 1837-A.
Sec. 19.  17 MRSA §1836, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2013, c. 306, §2, is further 
amended to read:
4.  Tournament.  The organization licensed to conduct a tournament game under this 
section shall display the rules of the tournament game and the license issued.  The 
maximum number of players allowed is 100 unless the tournament game is held on 
premises owned by the licensee, in which case the maximum number of players allowed 
is 300.  Winners are determined by a process of elimination.  The use of currency is 
prohibited as part of tournament game play.  The maximum entry fee to play in the 
tournament game is $100, except the organization may add to the player entry fee to 
defray the cost of the license fee, as long as the total additional amount collected from all 
players does not exceed $125.  Only one entry fee is permitted per person.  A tournament 
game must be completed within 48 hours. Other games of chance on the premises are 
prohibited during a tournament game, except for lucky seven or similar sealed tickets and 
no more than one 50/50 raffle per tournament with a prize value up to $1,000.  This 
subsection does not prohibit a licensee from conducting one winner-take-all hand per 
tournament game with a bet limit of $5.  The total number of bets received in a winner-
take-all round must be awarded to the winner or in the case of multiple winners divided 
among them as evenly as possible.  All prizes awarded in accordance with this subsection 
must be paid in cash by check.
Sec. 20.  17 MRSA §1836, sub-§4-A, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. 
KKKKK, §21, is repealed.
Sec. 21.  17 MRSA §1836, sub-§4-B, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. 
KKKKK, §22, is repealed.
Sec. 22.  17 MRSA §1843, sub-§§5 and 6, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. 
KKKKK, §30, are further amended to read:
5.  Disorderly persons. Presence of disorderly persons in a location where a game 
governed by this chapter is being conducted; and
6.  Leasing of equipment.  Leasing of equipment by a licensee or registrant used in 
the operation of games governed by this chapter not in accordance with this chapter; and .
Sec. 23.  17 MRSA §1843, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§30, is repealed.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws regarding games of chance conducted and regulated 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17, chapter 62, including the following.
1.  It provides a definition of "bona fide charitable organization" to include entities 
such as fire departments and political, recreational and patriotic organizations, as long as 
those entities have tax-exempt status under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 
1986, are licensed as charitable organizations under the Charitable Solicitations Act and 
are corporations in good standing with the Secretary of State.
2.  It provides a definition of "game of chance and skill" for the purpose of 
distinguishing a game that requires the skillful exercise of judgment to influence the 
outcome of a game from a game of chance, which is a game in which chance influences 
the outcome in a manner that cannot be eliminated through the application of skill.
3.  It provides that a game of chance and skill that is conducted by a bona fide 
charitable organization is exempt from licensing and other regulation.
4.  It provides that a game of chance and skill that is conducted by a person that is not 
a bona fide charitable organization is treated in the same manner, for purposes of 
regulation and licensing, as a game of chance.
5.  It removes the cap on the maximum number of players allowed in tournament 
games and requires prizes to be paid by check.
6.  It removes the specific regulation of cribbage tournaments and the exceptions for 
cribbage tournaments, since they will either not be regulated if conducted by a bona fide 
charitable organization or will be subject to the same regulation as other tournament 
games if conducted by an organization that is not a bona fide charitable organization.
7.  It removes the requirement that the Department of Public Safety, Gambling 
Control Unit adopt rules that regulate undesirable activities and conduct of organizations 
established primarily to operate games but that do not have a bona fide nonprofit 
charitable, educational, political, civic, recreational, fraternal, patriotic, religious or public 
safety purpose.