VLA 127th Session Bills

Gaming LDs / Bills for the 127th Maine Legislative Session

The 127th Maine Legislature convened on December 3, 2014 and Adjourned on August 4, 2016

LD/Bill LD 104
Sponsor Sen. John L. Patrick (D - Oxford)
Title An Act To Increase Gaming Opportunities for Charitable Veterans' Organizations
Summary This bill permits the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board, beginning January 1, 2016, to issue a license to a charitable nonprofit organization that is a veterans' organization that is tax-exempt under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to operate up to 3 slot machines on premises that have been owned, rented or leased by the organization for at least 2 consecutive years, that serve as its primary administrative operations headquarters and that are located in a municipality that has, by referendum of the voters, approved the operation of slot machines in that municipality. The charitable nonprofit veterans' organization must be able to demonstrate that it has a cash reserve of $1,000 for each machine the organization intends to operate. A charitable nonprofit veterans' organization that wishes to apply prior to January 1, 37 2016 may file a declaration of intent to apply with the Gambling Control Board. An application must include a refundable $2,500 deposit. The initial application fee for a slot machine operator license is $500, and the annual renewal fee is $175. A slot machine operated by a charitable nonprofit veterans' organization is subject to the same central site monitoring that applies to casinos and slot machine facilities at harness racing tracks. The total number of slot machines allowed to be operated by charitable nonprofit veterans' organizations statewide between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016 is 80; beginning January 1, 2017 the number increases to 150. The bill provides that 10% of the net slot machine income from a charitable nonprofit veterans' organization is required to be deposited directly with the Gambling Control Board for administrative expenses; 8% goes directly to the General Fund; 10% goes to the host municipality; and 2% is dedicated to gambling addiction prevention and treatment. A charitable nonprofit veterans’ organization that is licensed to operate slot machines is required to establish a separate account, from which the board may withdraw funds to distribute the net revenue percentages. The remaining revenue generated from the slot machines must be used to support the charitable purposes of the veterans' organization.
Status  Leave to Withdraw April 14, 2015
LD/Bill LD 516
Sponsor Rep. Louis J. Luchini (D - Ellsworth)
Title An Act Regarding Gaming
Summary This bill clarifies the authority of the State Liquor and Lottery Commission with regard to the conduct of lotteries. It provides that lotteries may include draw games in which the prize paid is calculated as a share of the prize pool but may not include draw games, such as keno, in which the player wins a set prize amount based on the wager made by the player.
Status PASSED MAY 20, 2015 (Veto Overridden)
LD/Bill LD 555
Sponsor Rep. Henry John Bear (I - the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians)
Title An Act To Distribute a Portion of Proceeds from the Oxford Casino to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs
Summary This bill provides the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians the same distribution of net slot machine income from casino slot machines operated in Oxford County as is provided to the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe under current law.
Status LEAVE TO WITHDRAW MARCH 10, 2015
LD/Bill LD 620
Sponsor Rep. John J. Picchiotti (R - Fairfield)
Title An Act To Allow Veterans' Organizations To Own and Operate Slot Machines
Summary This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to issue licenses for the operation of slot machines to charitable nonprofit organizations and off-track betting facilities. A charitable nonprofit organization must have been a bona fide nonprofit for at least 2 years prior to October 1, 2014 and must own or lease the premises on which the slot machines are operated. An eligible nonprofit charitable organization is limited to 5 slot machines. Facilities licensed as off-track betting facilities are limited to machines per facility. The bill increases the statewide limit on the 30 number of slot machines to be operated from 3,000 to 3,250. A charitable nonprofit organization authorized to operate slot machines is required to distribute 30% of net slot machine revenue to the board to be divided among the Gambling Control Board, gambling addiction and treatment programs, the General Fund and the host municipality. An off-track betting facility is required to distribute 45% of net slot machine revenue to the board to be divided among the Gambling Control Board, gambling addiction and treatment programs, the General Fund, the host municipality and the Coordinated Veterans Assistance Fund.
Status NOT PASSED MAY 14, 2015 (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 762
Sponsor Rep. Theodore Bear Mitchell I (X - Penobscot Nation)
Title An Act To Permit the Penobscot Nation To Operate Electronic High-stakes Bingo
Summary This bill authorizes the Penobscot Nation to use electronic beano terminals for the operation of high-stakes electronic beano. It specifies that an electronic beano terminal is not a slot machine or an illegal gambling machine. An electronic beano terminal plays a game of chance resembling a beano game using a draw of no more than 75 letters and numbers that correspond to the game. The element of chance is determined by a central computer server system that is subject to testing by an independent testing company and to which the Chief of the State Police is provided access via the Internet for the purpose of conducting audits and monitoring play. An electronic beano terminal is not permitted to dispense cash or prizes. Instead, prizes for high-stakes electronic beano are awarded by voucher. The bill also clarifies that, unlike traditional beano, beano conducted on an electronic beano terminal is not required to be a group game.
Status NOT PASSED MAY 5, 2015 (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 838
Sponsor Rep. John J. Picchiotti (R - Fairfield)
Title An Act To Enhance Equity and Efficiency for Off-track Betting Facilities
Summary This bill adjusts the distribution of commissions on simulcasting of races with commingled pools originating at a racetrack in another state by an off-track betting facility without reducing the portion of those revenues that benefit the State. In addition, the bill eliminates the off-track betting facility simulcast fund share received by a commercial track whose parent company is owned or operated or owned and operated by a casino in this State. The bill also modifies the requirement that an off-track betting facility operator be a liquor license holder, but maintains the requirement that an off-track betting facility be situated in a facility that is licensed to serve liquor and food. The bill also eliminates the requirement for at least 150 race dates in the preceding 2 calendar years before interstate simulcasting or the licensing of an off-track betting facility is allowed.
Status PASSED JUNE 16, 2015
LD/Bill LD 997
Sponsor Representative Michael G. Devin, D - Newcastle
Title Resolve, Authorizing Legislation To Streamline the Laws Governing the Licensing and Conduct of Beano and Games of Chance
Summary This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill proposes to streamline licensing and registration requirements for veterans' organizations and the method of payments by those veterans' organizations.
Status NOT PASSED APRIL 29, 2016 (Died On Adjournment)
LD/Bill LD1066
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LD/Bill LD 1213
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LD/Bill LD 1279
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LD/Bill LD 1280
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LD/Bill LD 1283
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LD/Bill LD 1292
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LD/Bill LD 1346
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LD/Bill LD 1357
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LD/Bill LD 1446
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