An Act to Exempt Internet Raffles Conducted by Certain
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0863
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: WHITE, FARRIN
Amends: 17 MRSA §1837-A, 17 MRSA §1837-B

Legislative Document
No. 863
H.P. 549
House of Representatives, March 4, 2025
An Act to Exempt Internet Raffles Conducted by Certain 
Organizations with Prizes of $2,500 or Less from Registration and 
Licensing Requirements
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WHITE of Guilford.
Cosponsored by Senator FARRIN of Somerset and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, BISHOP of Bucksport, MASON of Lisbon, 
MONTELL of Gardiner, PARRY of Arundel, RAY of Lincolnville, RUDNICKI of Fairfield, 
WHITE of Ellsworth.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  17 MRSA §1837-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2021, c. 136, §8, is further 
amended to read:
2.  Raffle with a prize of $2,500 or less.  Except for raffles conducted by an eligible 
organization under subsection 7, a 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 $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 $2,500.
Sec. 2.  17 MRSA §1837-A, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2021, c. 636, §2, is further 
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 in which the 
total value of the prize offered to the holder of the winning chance may not exceed $2,500 
or, if there are multiple winning chances, the total value of all prizes offered may not exceed 
a value of $2,500 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 identified on the registration 
form.  Notwithstanding subsection 6, an eligible organization may not conduct more than 
one Internet raffle at the same time. The eligible organization and Internet 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. 3.  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 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. This subsection does not apply 
to an Internet raffle conducted by an eligible organization in which the total value of the 
prize offered to the holder of the winning chance may not exceed $2,500 or, if there are 
multiple winning chances, the total value of all prizes offered may not exceed a value of 
$2,500.
SUMMARY
This bill removes the prohibition on an agricultural society, nonprofit organization, 
volunteer fire department or their auxiliaries to conduct Internet raffles in which the total 
value of the prize offered to the holder of the winning chance does not exceed $2,500 or, if 
there are multiple winning chances, the total value of all prizes offered do not exceed a 
value of $2,500 without being required to register with the Department of Public Safety, 
Gambling Control Unit.