An Act To Remove O the Bet Limit for Winner-take-all Hands in Games of Chance Tournament Games
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0253
Committee Amendment CA_A_S64 (Senate)
Amends: 17 MRSA §1831, 17 MRSA §1836

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ft "to S.P. 65, L.D. 253, Bill, "An Act To Remove 
O 
the Bet Limit for Winner-take-all Hands in Games of Chance Tournament Games" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Clarify the Requirements for High-hand Competitions in Games of 
Chance Tournament Games' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §1831, sub-§7-A is enacted to read: 
7-A. High-hand competition. "High-hand competition" means a game of chance 
conducted during a tournament game in which the winner is the person who plays the 
highest hand of cards, according to the rules of the tournament, during the tournament 
game. 
Sec.!. 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 high-hand competitions under 
subsection 7, 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 subseetion does not prohibit a lieensee 
from eoncluetin!! one winner take all hand uer tournament eame 1.vith a bet limit of $5. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ft "to S.P. 65,L.D. 253 LS,-(a0 
The total number of bets reoeived in a 1.vinner take all rOl:l:B:d must be awarded to the 
winner or in the ease of multiple winners divided among them as e11enly as possible. All 
prizes awarded in accordance with this subsection must be paid in cash or by check. 
Sec. 3. 17 MRSA §1836, sub-§7 is enacted to read: 
7. High-hand competition. A licensee under this section may conduct one high-
hand competition per tournament game. Participation in the high-hand competition is not 
mandatory and must be determined prior to the start of the tournament. Notwithstanding 
any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the total number of bets received in a 
high-hand competition 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 or by check.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title. It removes the authority in 
current law for one winner-take-all-hand to be conducted during a game of chance 
tournament game and instead authorizes licensees to conduct one high-hand competition 
per tournament game. Under the amendment, a "high-hand competition" is defmed as an 
optional game of chance conducted during a tournament game in which the winner is the 
person who plays the highest hand of cards, according to the rules of the tournament, 
during the tournament game. 
Participation in the high-hand competition must be 
determined prior to the start of the tournament and the total number of bets received in a 
high-hand competition must be awarded to the winner or, in the case of multiple winners, 
divided among them as evenly as possible. 
The amendment also authorizes the payment of tournament game prizes and high-
hand competition prizes either in cash or by check. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/06/19 WaC':-
LD253 
LR 637(02) 
An Act To Remove the Bet Limit for Winner-take-all Hands in Games of Chance Tournament Games 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '1\-'' C .S-~<..t) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Gambling Control Board within the Department of Public Safety as a result of changes to 
the rules clarifying the definition of a "high-hand competitions" and how they may be conducted in a game of chance 
tournament are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0637(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I