PUBLIC Law, Chapter 339, An Act To Amend Seasonal Licenses for the Operation of Beano or Bingo Games

An Act To Amend Seasonal Licenses for the Operation of Beano or Bingo Games

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

Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §315, as enacted by PL 1975, c. 307, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§ 315. Seasonal licenses

Notwithstanding sections 314 and 319, the Chief of the State Police may issue up to 10 seasonal licenses to operate beano or bingo games in a calendar year, including those designed to attract players under 16 years of age, in bona fide resort hotels as long as the conditions prescribed by this section are met. For the purposes of this section, "resort hotel" means a full-service hotel facility that offers leisure or recreational activities such as golf, tennis, water sports or horseback riding.

1. Operated on-site. The beano or bingo games must be operated and conducted in those resort hotels by the management without profit and solely for the entertainment of registered guests or patrons of that resort hotel.

2. Player fee prohibited. A licensee under this section may not charge an entry fee or any fee to participate in a beano or bingo game.

3. Minors. Prizes awarded for the play of beano or bingo under this section must be nonmonetary and valued at less than $10 and may be awarded to a single player no more than once every 24 hours. Notwithstanding section 319, a person under 16 years of age may be admitted to the playing area without an adult and may participate in the game as long as the game is not conducted in a room or area where alcoholic beverages are served. Beano or bingo games under this section may not be conducted with any other gambling activity, including games of chance under chapter 62. For purposes of this subsection, "nonmonetary prize" includes a credit for food served on the premises of the resort hotel.

The fee for a license issued pursuant to this section is $10 and must be paid to the Treasurer of State to be credited to the General Fund. A hotel or liquor license of a resort hotel licensee may not be withheld because of the conducting by the resort hotel of beano or bingo games.

Nothing in this section permits the operation or conduct of beano or bingo games without a license.

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

SP0441 LD 1427	PUBLIC Law, Chapter 339 Signed on 2011-06-14 00:00:00.0 - First Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature
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