An Act Regarding Licensing of Cribbage Tournaments

Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §1833-A  is enacted to read:

§ 1833-A.  License exception

Notwithstanding section 1832, a license to conduct a game of chance is not required for a cribbage tournament if the conditions listed in this section are met. For the purposes of this section, "cribbage" means a card game that uses a board and pegs to keep score and of which the characteristic feature is a crib into which players discard cards from their dealt hand to create a crib of 4 cards unseen by other players that will be ultimately part of the dealer's hand. In a cribbage tournament, winners are determined by a process of elimination. A cribbage tournament may extend beyond a calendar day. A person may operate a cribbage tournament without a license if the operator:

SUMMARY

This bill provides that a license to conduct games of chance is not required for a cribbage tournament operated on the premises of a restaurant or Class A restaurant licensed to sell alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption or at a manufacturing facility where samples are provided or sold, commonly known as a tasting room. The operator must limit participation to patrons of the establishment who are 21 years of age or older. The operator of a game may not profit and all entry fees must be paid to players in the form of winnings or donated to a charitable organization. Entry fees may not exceed $25 per person.