An Act To Increase the Prize Limit on Beano

Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §317, first ¶,  as amended by PL 1999, c. 74, §2, is further amended to read:

The Chief of the State Police has the power to adopt rules, not inconsistent with law, that are necessary for the administration and enforcement of this chapter and for the licensing, conduct and operation of the amusement commonly known as "Beano" or "Bingo" and for the permitting and operation of commercial beano halls. The Chief of the State Police has the power and authority to regulate, supervise and exercise general control over the operation of such amusement and commercial beano halls, including, but not limited to, the payment of prizes and the use of equipment. Any rule adopted by the Chief of the State Police concerning the value of prizes that may be awarded must include a provision that no single prize may exceed $400 in value and that no more than $1,400 $2,000 in total prizes may be awarded on any one occasion. The Chief of the State Police shall include in the rule a provision that allows for the operator of a beano or bingo game, in the event of a tie, to conduct a drawing to determine a single winner. In establishing such rules, which are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A 2-A, the Chief of the State Police must, in addition to the standards set forth in other provisions of this chapter, use the following standards setting forth conduct, conditions and activity considered undesirable:

summary

This bill increases the total prize limit for beano from $1,400 to $2,000 and requires the Chief of the State Police to include in rules adopted to govern beano a provision that allows for a drawing to determine a winner in the event of a tie.