An Act To Create a Small Nonprofit Raffle Operator License
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1980
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: JACKSON, HICKMAN
Amends: 17 MRSA §1834, 17 MRSA §1837-A, 17 MRSA §1837-B, 17 MRSA §1837-C

Legislative Document
No. 1980
S.P. 711
In Senate, February 10, 2022
An Act To Create a Small Nonprofit Raffle Operator License
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by President JACKSON of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Senator: HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  17 MRSA §1834, sub-§5-B is enacted to read:
5-B.  Small nonprofit raffle operator.  The fees for a small nonprofit raffle operator 
license are as follows:
A. $100 for a small nonprofit raffle operator with less than $25,000 in annual gross 
receipts for sales of Internet raffle tickets;
B. $250 for a small nonprofit raffle operator with $25,000 or more but less than $50,000 
in annual gross receipts for sales of Internet raffle tickets; and
C. $500 for a small nonprofit raffle operator with $50,000 or more but less than $75,000 
in annual gross receipts for sales of Internet raffle tickets.
Sec. 2.  17 MRSA §1837-A, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, 
§25, is amended to read:
1.  Registration required.  Unless otherwise specified by this section or section 
1837-C, a person or organization may not conduct a raffle without registering with the 
Gambling Control Unit.
Sec. 3.  17 MRSA §1837-A, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 136, §10, is amended 
to read:
7.  Internet raffles; restrictions.  An eligible organization described in section 1832, 
subsection 2 may conduct a raffle described in subsection 2‑A or subsection 4 as an Internet 
raffle if the eligible organization registers with the Gambling Control Unit and the Internet 
raffle is operated in accordance with the requirements of this chapter by an Internet raffle 
operator or small nonprofit raffle operator identified on the registration form.  The eligible 
organization and Internet raffle operator or small nonprofit raffle operator may not permit 
a person under 18 years of age to purchase a chance or ticket for an Internet raffle and may 
not advertise or market the Internet raffle in a manner that has a high likelihood of reaching 
persons under 18 years of age or that is specifically designed to appeal particularly to 
persons under 18 years of age.
Sec. 4.  17 MRSA §1837-B, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 136, §11, is amended 
to read:
1.  License and approval required.  A person may not operate an Internet raffle unless 
the person is licensed as a small nonprofit raffle operator under section 1837-C or as an 
Internet raffle operator under subsection 2 and, if the person is licensed as an Internet raffle 
operator under subsection 2, the Internet raffle is conducted on behalf of an eligible 
organization registered under section 1837‑A, subsection 7, each payment for a chance or 
ticket for the Internet raffle is made through an Internet raffle system approved under 
subsection 4 and the winning chance or chances are selected by an Internet raffle system 
approved under subsection 4.
Sec. 5.  17 MRSA §1837-C is enacted to read:
§1837-C.  Small nonprofit raffle operator license
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "License holder" means the holder of a small nonprofit raffle operator license.
B.  "Nonprofit corporation" means a corporation, no part of the income or profit of 
which is distributable to its members, directors or officers, operating under Title 13-B.
2.  Operation of Internet raffle authorized.  Notwithstanding any provision of law 
to the contrary, a nonprofit corporation may operate a raffle, including an Internet raffle, if 
the nonprofit corporation is a license holder. 
3.  Eligibility.  In order to be eligible for a small nonprofit raffle operator license, a 
nonprofit corporation must demonstrate that it:
A.  Is a nonprofit corporation operating under Title 13-B; 
B.  Has a physical presence in the State; and
C.  Receives less than $75,000 per year in gross receipts from Internet raffle ticket 
sales.
4.  Application and license term.  A nonprofit corporation seeking a small nonprofit 
raffle operator license under this section must submit an application to the Gambling 
Control Unit on a form or in a format approved by the Gambling Control Unit.  A small 
nonprofit raffle operator license is valid for a period of 2 years from the date the license is 
issued. 
5.  Operation by license holder.  A license holder shall:
A.  Retain for a period of 3 years a physical copy of a receipt for the sale of each raffle 
ticket and each raffle ticket stub generated by the sale of a raffle ticket for each Internet 
raffle held by the license holder;
B.  Retain for a period of 3 years a physical copy of each raffle ticket stub generated 
by the sale of a ticket for a raffle that is not an Internet raffle;
C.  Maintain raffle ticket stubs retained under paragraph A or B in a manner organized 
by each individual raffle;
D.  Provide raffle ticket receipts and raffle ticket stubs retained under this subsection 
to the Gambling Control Unit on request; 
E.  If the license holder raffles a firearm, process the transfer of the firearm through a 
holder of a federal firearms license for a dealer in firearms other than destructive 
devices under 18 United States Code, Section 923; and
F.  Submit an annual report to the Gambling Control Unit that includes the number of 
raffles conducted during the year covered by the report and the amount of gross receipts 
for each of those raffles.
6.  Acceptance of credit cards.  A license holder that has dues-paying members may 
accept payments for the sale of raffle tickets by credit card.
7.  Violation.  A license holder that fails to comply with subsection 5, paragraph D 
commits a civil violation punishable by a fine of not less than $500 and not more than 
$5,000.
SUMMARY
This bill creates a small nonprofit raffle operator license for certain nonprofit 
corporations and allows holders of this license to operate raffles, including Internet raffles.