PUBLIC Law, Chapter 325, An Act To Revise the Laws on Tournament Games

An Act To Revise the Laws on Tournament Games

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §1836, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:

The Chief of the State Police may issue a license to conduct a tournament game as provided in under this section to an organization eligible to conduct beano games under chapter 13-A and games of chance under this chapter to conduct up to 2 tournament games per month. For purposes of this section, "tournament game" means a game of chance played using a deck of cards with rules similar to poker or other card games. The Chief of the State Police may not issue a tournament game license to an organization more than once per month.

Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §1836, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 17 MRSA §1836, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:

3-A. License. The license fees for tournament game licenses are as follows:

A. For tournament games that do not exceed 100 players:

(1) One hundred fifty dollars per tournament license;

(2) Two hundred fifty dollars for a monthly license; and

(3) Three thousand dollars for an annual license; and

B. For tournament games that exceed 100 players:

(1) Three hundred dollars for a tournament game with 101 to 150 players;

(2) Four hundred dollars for a tournament game with 151 to 200 players;

(3) Five hundred dollars for a tournament game with 201 to 250 players; and

(4) Six hundred dollars for a tournament game with 251 to 300 players.

Sec. 4. 17 MRSA §1836, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2, is 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 $200 $125. An organization that holds a per tournament license may collect up to $150 to defray the cost of the license fee. 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 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 subsection does not prohibit a licensee from conducting one winner-take-all hand per tournament game with a bet limit of $5. The total number of bets received in a winner-take-all round 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.

Sec. 5. 17 MRSA §1836, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2, is amended to read:

6. Cost of administration; surplus. The Chief of the State Police may retain, from license fees collected in accordance with subsection 3 3-A, only an amount necessary to defray the costs of administering this section. All fees collected in excess of the amount necessary to defray the costs of administration must be allocated as follows:

A. Forty percent to the Fractionation Development Center; and

B. Sixty percent to the General Fund.

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 125th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.

HP0718 LD 974	PUBLIC Law, Chapter 325 Unsigned on 2011-06-14 00:00:00.0 - First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature
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