§333. Application

An application to operate or conduct a game of chance shall must be on forms provided by the Chief of the State Police. Such application shall must be signed by a duly authorized officer of the organization. It shall must contain the full name and address of the organization, a full description of the game of chance, the location where the game is to be conducted and any other information deemed determined to be necessary by the Chief of the State Police for the issuance of a license to operate a game of chance. An application to operate or conduct a game of chance shall must bear the consent of the municipal officers of the town or city in which such game of chance is to be operated or conducted. The Chief of the State Police shall process an application for a license within 60 days of receipt of the application.

Sec. 5. 17 MRSA §334, as amended by PL 1981, c. 593, §3, is further amended to read:

§334. Evidence

The Chief of the State Police may require such evidence as he the chief may deem determine necessary to satisfy him the chief that an applicant or licensed organization conforms to the restrictions and other provisions of this chapter. Charters, organizational papers, bylaws or other such written orders of founding which that outline or otherwise explain the purpose for which such organization was founded or evidence regarding the conduct of a game of chance by the licensee, shall must, upon request, be forwarded to the Chief of the State Police. The Chief of the State Police may require of any licensee or of any person operating, conducting or assisting in the operation of a licensed game of chance evidence as he the chief may deem determine necessary to satisfy him the chief that the person is a duly authorized member of the licensee, or a person employed by the licensee as a bartender, as required by section 332, subsection 2. Upon request, this evidence shall must be forwarded to the Chief of the State Police.

Sec. 6. 17 MRSA §341, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2001, c. 384, §1 and affected by §3, is further amended to read:

4. Games conducted at agricultural fairs by members of agricultural society or bona fide nonprofit. Beginning January 1, 2002, games of chance operated and conducted solely by members of an agricultural fair society or games of chance operated and

conducted by members of bona fide nonprofit organizations on the grounds of the agricultural society and during the annual fair of the agricultural society may use cash, tickets, tokens or other device approved by the Chief of the State Police by rule.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the tickets, tokens or other device approved by the Chief of the State Police must be unique to the agricultural society and may be in denominations from of 25¢ to, 50¢ or $1. The tickets, tokens or device approved by the Chief of the State Police 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.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the laws regarding beano and games of chance as follows.

1. It provides for a period of 60 days for the Chief of the State Police to process applications for beano and games of chance licenses.

2. It allows the Chief of the State Police to require evidence from beano and games of chance licensees regarding conduct of the amusements.

3. It requires organizations desiring to be licensed to conduct games of chance to be in existence for 2 years before applying for a license.

4. It allows licensed agricultural fair societies to use tokens in the denomination of $1 for games of chance.