VLA 129th Session Bills

Gaming LDs / Bills for the 129th Maine Legislative Session

The 129th Maine Legislature convened on December 5, 2018 and Adjourned on August 24, 2020

LD/Bill LD 34
Sponsor Representative William R. Tuell, (R - East Machias)
Title An Act To Clarify Game of Chance Licensing Requirements
Summary This bill authorizes nonprofit fraternal and veterans' organizations to conduct cribbage tournaments in which no cash prizes are awarded without obtaining a license from or registering with the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Unit.
Status PASSED  APRIL 30, 2019
LD/Bill LD 131
Sponsor Representative Mark E. Bryant, (D - Windham)
Title An Act To Permit a Veterans Organization To Lease Its Facility to an Organization That Is Registered To Operate Beano or Bingo Games without Obtaining a Commercial Beano Hall Permit
Summary This bill exempts a veterans organization from the requirement to obtain a commercial beano hall permit in order to lease its facility to an organization registered to operate "beano" or "bingo" games.
Status PASSED  APRIL 11, 2019
LD/Bill LD 158
Sponsor Senator Bradlee Thomas Farrin, (R - Somerset)
Title An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Beano
Summary This bill removes the requirement that beano conducted by organizations such as volunteer fire departments, agricultural fair associations and nonprofit, charitable, educational, political, civic, recreational, fraternal, patriotic, religious or veterans organizations be conducted by members of those organizations and instead requires that  beano conducted by these organizations be conducted in the presence of at least one member of the organization.
Status PASSED  APRIL 26, 2019
LD/Bill LD 253
Sponsor Senator Shenna Lee Bellows, (D - Kennebec)
Title An Act To Clarify the Requirements for High-hand Competitions in Games of Chance Tournament Games
Summary This bill removes the $5 bet limit for a winner-take-all hand conducted during a game of chance tournament game.
Status PASSED  MAY 16, 2019
LD/Bill LD 352
Sponsor Representative Thomas H. Skolfield, (R - Weld)
Title An Act Regarding Licensing Fees for Certain Tournament Games
Summary This bill waives the license fees for game of chance tournaments with fewer than 50 players conducted by veterans' organizations
Status PASSED APRIL 30, 2019
LD/Bill LD 553
Sponsor Senator Louis J. Luchini, (D - Hancock)
Title An Act To Ensure Proper Oversight of Sports Betting in the State
Summary This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill proposes to ensure proper oversight of sports betting
Status DEAD FEBRUARY 11, 2020  (Governor Veto Sustained)
LD/Bill LD 661
Sponsor Representative Anne-Marie Mastraccio, (D - Sanford)
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, 2020, 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, 2020 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, 2020 and December 31, 2020 is 80; beginning January 1, 2021 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 DEAD  NOVEMBER 16, 2020   (Died Upon Conclusion of the 129th Legislature)
LD/Bill LD 715
Sponsor Representative James R. Handy, (D - Lewiston)
Title An Act To Change the Allocation Formula for Revenue from Slot Machines
Summary This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill proposes to change the allocation of the revenue from slot machines operated by casinos, as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 8, section 1036, subsections 2 and 2-A. This bill would not change the percentage of the net slot machine income being distributed, but would: 1. Return to the allocation formula established in the legislation allowing casinos that  was approved at referendum, which would require reducing the funding of certain items, such as the fund to supplement harness racing purses and the Sire Stakes Fund, and eliminating the funding of other items, such as the Fund to Encourage Racing at Maine's Commercial Tracks and the Fund to Stabilize Off-track Betting Facilities. Under this proposal, the 14% of the net slot machine income attributable to the reduction or elimination of those allocations would be distributed elsewhere; 2. Reallocate the net slot machine income among the current receivers of the income, increasing the share of some, such as the Fund for a Healthy Maine, the University of Maine System Scholarship Fund, the Maine Maritime Academy and the Maine Community College System, while decreasing the share of others, such as the fund to  supplement harness racing purses, and eliminating the share of others, such as the Fund to Encourage Racing at Maine's Commercial Tracks, the Sire Stakes Fund and the Fund to Stabilize Off-track Betting Facilities; or 3. Enact a combination of the 2 methods and include different recipients.
Status DEAD  MARCH 14, 2019   (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 1144
Sponsor Representative Benjamin T. Collings, (D - Portland)
Title An Act To Authorize Tribal Gaming
Summary This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to accept an application for a casino operator license from a joint tribal entity authorizing the joint tribal entity to operate table games and slot machines at one casino owned by the joint tribal entity. It increases by 1,500 the number of slot machines that may be registered in the State. "Joint tribal entity" is defined as a legal entity formed for the purpose of operating slot machines and table games at one casino, the entire ownership of which is held equally, either jointly or in common, by the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. The bill provides the following in regard to the casino. 1. It specifies that, as a condition of a joint tribal entity's receiving a license, a casino must be located: A. On land that on January 1, 2019 was owned by the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Aroostook Band of Micmacs or the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians or land held in trust by the United States or by any other person or entity for the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Aroostook Band of Micmacs or the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians; B. On land located in the unorganized territory; or C. On land in a municipality and that municipality approves of the operation of the casino in that municipality, either by vote of its legislative body or in a referendum of the voters of the municipality. 2. It exempts a casino licensed to a joint tribal entity from the provision in current law that prohibits a new casino or slot machine facility from being located within 100 miles of an existing casino or slot machine facility. It provides that a casino licensed to a joint tribal entity may not be located within 50 miles of an existing facility. 13. It provides that a change in the composition of a joint tribal entity does not invalidate a casino license issued to the entity as long as the change occurs no sooner than 6 months after the license is issued and the entity still consists of at least 2 federally recognized Indian tribes in the State who own equal shares of the entity in its entirety. 4. It changes the provision in current law that states that distributions of net slot machine revenue from the casino located in Oxford County to the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe revert to the operator if one or both tribes operate or receive distributions from a newly licensed casino. It provides that the distribution of that slot machine revenue would instead be deposited into the General Fund if either the Penobscot Nation or the Passamaquoddy Tribe operated or received distributions from a newly licensed casino. 5. It establishes a distribution rate of 25% of net slot machine income and 16% of net table game income for a casino operator that is a joint tribal entity. The slot machine income is used to fund education for kindergarten to grade 12 and the table game income is deposited to the General Fund
Status DEAD  NOVEMBER 16, 2020  (Died Upon Conclusion of the 129th Legislature)
LD/Bill LD 1154
Sponsor Representative James R. Handy, (D - Lewiston)
Title An Act To Increase the Betting Limit on Games of Chance at Fairs and Festivals and To Expand Allowed Operation
Summary This bill raises the betting limit for games of chance from $1 to $5. It also allows a bona fide nonprofit organization to operate a licensed card game or registered game of chance to which the general public has access for 4 consecutive days instead of 3 days and removes the current 3-month waiting period between game operations.
Status PASSED  MAY 16, 2019
LD/Bill LD 1244
Sponsor Representative Benjamin T. Collings, (D - Portland)
Title An Act To Authorize the Gambling Control Board To Accept an Application from the Passamaquoddy Tribe To Operate 50 Slot Machines in the Tribe's High-stakes Beano Facility
Summary This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to accept an application from the Passamaquoddy Tribe to operate 50 slot machines at a gambling facility in Washington County at which high-stakes beano is conducted by the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The bill raises the limit on the number of slot machines allowed in the State by 50 to accommodate the slot machines that may be operated by the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The bill requires deposit of 25% of net slot machine income in the General Fund and sets the initial application fee to operate the 50 slot machines at $10,000 and the renewal fee at $5,000. The Passamaquoddy Tribe is exempted from paying a $250,000 nonrefundable privilege fee and a $5,000,000 license fee. Slot machines operated by the Passamaquoddy Tribe would be subject to the oversight of the Gambling Control Board and subject to the same laws and rules as other slot machines operated in this State.
Status DEAD  NOVEMBER 16, 2020  (Died Upon Conclusion of the 129th Legislature)
LD/Bill LD 1268
Sponsor Senator Scott W. Cyrway, (R - Kennebec)
Title An Act To Update and Clarify the Laws Governing Raffles
Summary This bill amends the law governing raffles for certain nonprofit organizations in the following ways: 1. Increasing the amount of total value of all prizes for which the nonprofit organization is not required to register the raffle with the Gambling Control Unit from $2,500 to $10,000; 2. Allowing noncash raffle prizes to be in the alternate form of cash or to be exchanged for cash; 3. Removing the limitation allowing only one raffle with a noncash prize up to $75,000 and a cash prize up to $20,000 in a 12-month period; and 4. Clarifying that the nonprofit organization may conduct more than one raffle at a time.
Status PASSED  MAY 16, 2019
LD/Bill LD 1348
Sponsor Representative Jeffrey Evangelos, (I - Friendship)
Title An Act To Authorize Sports Wagering
Summary This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to issue licenses to conduct sports wagering, including online sports wagering, to persons or federally recognized Indian tribes licensed to operate casinos, commercial tracks or off track betting facilities. The board may issue licenses to operate only online sports wagering to federally recognized Indian tribes that are not licensed to operate casinos, commercial tracks or off-track betting facilities. Under the bill, "sports wagering" is defined as any device or system established for the acceptance of wagers on a sports event by any system or method of wagering. Sports wagering operators may accept wagers on all professional or amateur sports events except high school sports events, other events in which a majority of the participants are minors and competitive video game events. Sports wagering operators may not accept wagers from persons whose identity they cannot verify; persons under 21 years of age; the director, officers and employees of the sports wagering operator and relatives living in the same household as those persons; athletes, coaches, referees and umpires participating in the sports event; other interested persons if the sports event upon which the wager is placed is overseen by the person's league or sports governing body; persons with confidential information that could affect the outcome of the sports event; persons who are on a list of prohibited persons established by the board, including persons who voluntarily request to be prohibited from making sports wagers; and persons who make wagers on behalf of another person. The bill requires the board to adopt rules regulating the conduct of sports wagering, including rules restricting the types of wagers permitted, establishing the maximum wagers that may be accepted from any one person on a single sports event, regulating the design and minimum security standards for in-person sports wagering lounges located within casino, commercial track or off-track betting facilities and establishing record keeping, reporting and auditing requirements. The bill also requires the board to adopt rules further regulating the conduct of online sports wagering, including rules regulating the servers and other equipment used to conduct sports wagering online, establishing methods for verifying the identity and age of persons placing wagers online and prohibiting the acceptance of wagers from outside the State as required by federal law. The bill further requires that 1% of net sports wagering income be used for administrative expenses of the board and 24% of net sports wagering income be credited by the Treasurer of State to the Department of Education for essential programs and services for kindergarten to grade 12. Finally, the bill provides that the laws governing unlawful gambling and games of chance do not apply to sports wagering operators that comply with the laws governing sports wagering.
Status DEAD  MAY 14, 2019  (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 1456
Sponsor Representative Patrick W. Corey, (R - Windham)
Title An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Raffles
Summary This bill repeals the current law governing raffles and enacts new law based on the former Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17, section 1837, which was enacted by Public Law 2009, chapter 487, Part A, section 2 and took effect on July 12, 2010.
Status DEAD  APRIL 23, 2019  (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 1515
Sponsor Representative Dustin Michael White, (R - Mars Hill)
Title An Act To Allow Sports Wagering in Maine
Summary This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to issue licenses to operate sports pools to commercial tracks and off-track betting facilities in the State. Under the bill, wagers on sports events must be made in person at a sports wagering lounge and may not be transmitted over the Internet from a remote location. Sports pool operators may accept wagers on all professional or amateur sports events except high school sports events and other events in which a majority of the participants are minors. Sports pool operators may not accept wagers from persons whose identity they cannot verify; persons under 18 years of age; the director, officers and employees of the sports pool operator and relatives living in the same household as those persons; athletes, coaches, referees and umpires participating in the sports event; other interested persons including persons who own more than 50% of the legal or beneficial interest in any team if the sports event upon which the wager is placed is overseen by the person's league or sports governing body; persons with confidential information that could affect the outcome of the sports event; persons who are on a list of persons who are to be excluded or removed from a sports wagering lounge established by the board, including persons who voluntarily request to be excluded; and persons who make wagers on behalf of another person. The bill requires the board to adopt rules regulating the operation of sports pools, including rules restricting the types of wagers permitted, establishing the maximum wagers that may be accepted from any one person on a single sports event, regulating the design and minimum security standards for in-person sports wagering lounges located within a commercial track or off-track betting facility and establishing record-keeping, reporting and auditing requirements. The bill further requires that 18% of net sports pool income be transferred to the board for distribution as follows: 1% for administrative expenses of the board; 2% for primary and secondary school education in the State; 2% for the Maine Community College System's scholarships program; 2% to the Agricultural Fair Support Fund; 2% to the fund used to supplement harness racing purses; 2% to the Fund to Encourage Racing at Maine's Commercial Tracks; 2% to the Fund to Stabilize Off-track Betting Facilities; and 5% to be divided equally among the tribal governments of the federally recognized Indian tribes in the State. Finally, the bill provides that the laws governing unlawful gambling and games of chance do not apply to sports pool operators that comply with the laws governing sports pools.
Status DEAD MAY 14, 2019  (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 1571
Sponsor Representative Benjamin T. Collings, (D - Portland)
Title An Act To Establish the Exclusive Right of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribes in the State To Conduct All Sports Betting in Maine
Summary This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to issue licenses to federally recognized Indian tribes to operate online sports pools. A tribe that is licensed by the board may enter into a written contract, approved by the board, with a licensed online sports pool vendor to operate the online sports pool on behalf of  the tribe. Under the bill, an online sports pool is described as a device or system established for the acceptance of wagers on a sports event by any system or method of wagering in which the wagers are made via electronic device and transmitted by any means that involves the use, at least in part, of the Internet. Online sports pool operators may accept wagers on all professional or amateur sports events except high school sports events or other events in which a majority of the participants are minors. Online sports pool operators may not accept wagers from persons whose identity they cannot verify; persons under 21 years of age; the director, officers and employees of the online sports pool operator and relatives living in the same household as those persons; athletes, coaches, referees and umpires participating in the sports event; other interested persons if the sports event upon which the wager is placed is overseen by the person's league or sports governing body; persons with confidential information that could affect the outcome of the sports event; persons who voluntarily request to be prohibited from making online sports wagers; and persons who make wagers on behalf of another person. The bill requires the board to adopt rules regulating the operation of online sports pools, including rules restricting the types of wagers permitted, establishing the maximum wagers that may be accepted from any one person on a single sports event, imposing requirements for servers and other equipment used to operate the online sports pool, establishing methods for verifying the identity and age of persons placing wagers online and prohibiting the acceptance of wagers from outside the State as required by federal law. The bill further requires that 1% of net online sports pool income be used for administrative expenses of the board and that 10% of net online sports pool income be distributed to the Treasurer of State to be credited to the Department of Education for essential programs and services for kindergarten to grade 12. Finally, the bill provides that the laws governing unlawful gambling and games of chance do not apply to online sports pool operators that comply with the laws governing online sports pools.
Status DEAD  MAY 14, 2019  (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 1633
Sponsor Representative Benjamin T. Collings, (D - Portland)
Title An Act To Legalize Keno and Historical Instant Racing
Summary This bill establishes a framework for the regulation of historical instant racing and keno. The bill creates a single license for the operation of historical instant racing and keno. Casinos, commercial tracks, off-track betting facilities and high-stakes beano facilities are each eligible to apply for the license, issued by the Gambling Control Board. The bill directs the board to adopt rules governing the conduct of historical instant racing and keno, including rules related to the prevention of fraud or deception, authorized wager amounts, the maximum percentage of all wagers that may be retained by the licensee and methods for verifying that a person who makes a historical instant racing wager or who plays keno is at least 21 years of age. The bill further requires that 1% of the net income from historical instant racing and keno be used for administrative expenses of the board and that 10% of the net revenue be distributed to the Treasurer of the State to be credited to the Department of Education for essential programs and services for kindergarten to grade 12
Status DEAD JUNE 12, 2019  (Accepted Majority (Ought Not to Pass) Report)
LD/Bill LD 1642
Sponsor Senator Matthew G. Pouliot, (R - Kennebec)
Title An Act Regarding the Regulation of Sports Wagering
Summary This bill authorizes sports wagering regulated by the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Unit. The bill requires a person or entity offering sports wagering to hold an operator license. A gaming entity that offers sports wagering through mobile applications or digital platforms in any jurisdiction in the United States pursuant to a state regulatory structure and that meets certain requirements is eligible to receive an operator license. An operator license authorizes the operation of sports wagering through a mobile application or digital platform approved by the Gambling Control Unit. For the privilege of holding a license to operate sports wagering, the bill levies a tax of 10% of the licensee's adjusted gross sports wagering receipts from the operation of sports wagering. The bill allows the director of the Gambling Control Unit to enter into a sports wagering agreement between the director and one or more other governments whereby persons who are physically located in a signatory jurisdiction may participate in sports wagering conducted by one or more operators licensed by the signatory governments. The bill also allows a fantasy contest operator to offer a fantasy contest based on the performances of participants in collegiate athletic events.
Status DEAD MAY 14, 2019  (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 1656
Sponsor President Troy D. Jackson, (D - Aroostook)
Title An Act To Provide for the Regulation of Sports Wagering
Summary This bill authorizes sports wagering regulated by the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Unit. The bill requires a person or entity involved in sports wagering to hold a facility license, supplier license, management services license, mobile sports wagering license or occupational license. To be eligible to receive a facility license, a person or entity must also hold a license, or in the case of a beano operator, hold a license or be registered, as a commercial track, off-track betting facility, slot machine facility, casino or beano operator. A mobile sports wagering license authorizes the operation of sports wagering through a mobile application or digital platform approved by the Gambling Control Unit. For the privilege of holding a mobile sports wagering license or a facility license to operate sports wagering, the bill levies a tax of 10% of the licensee's adjusted gross sports wagering receipts from the operation of sports wagering. The bill allows a fantasy contest operator to offer a fantasy contest based on the performances of participants in collegiate athletic events.
Status DEAD MAY 14, 2019  (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 1657
Sponsor President Troy D. Jackson, (D - Aroostook)
Title An Act To Regulate Sports Wagering
Summary This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to regulate, supervise and exercise general control over sports wagering in the State. The bill authorizes the board to issue licenses to casinos, commercial tracks, off-track betting facilities and high-stakes beano facilities to conduct sports wagering. A licensee may either directly operate a sports wagering business or enter a written contract, approved by the board, with a licensed management services provider to conduct sports wagering on its behalf. The bill directs the board to adopt rules governing the conduct of sports wagering, including rules defining permitted systems and methods of wagering on sports events, the adoption and posting of comprehensive house rules in every facility where sports wagers are accepted and on every electronic platform through which sports wagers are made, minimum design and security requirements for sports wagering facilities and electronic platforms and minimum internal control standards for the financial aspects of sports  wagering operations. The bill prohibits sports wagering operators, including management services providers, from accepting wagers on high school and minor league sports events as well as collegiate sports events in which any Maine college team participates. The bill also prohibits sports wagering operators from accepting wagers on a sports event from a person under years of age, an athlete or official who participates in the sports event, an employee or owner of a team that is participating in the sports event, an employee of the sports wagering operator, the board or the Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety and a person who is on a list established by the board of persons prohibited from placing wagers on sports events. The bill requires distribution of 5% of net sports wagering revenue to the General Fund. An additional 5% of net sports wagering revenue must be collected and distributed to support licensed commercial tracks, licensed off-track betting facilities, the Sire Stakes Fund, the Agricultural Fair Support Fund and the fund to supplement harness racing purses. Finally, the bill provides that the laws governing unlawful gambling and games of chance do not apply to sports wagering operations that comply with the laws governing sports wagering
Status DEAD MAY 14, 2019  (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310)
LD/Bill LD 1797
Sponsor Representative Kathleen R. J. Dillingham, (R - Oxford)
Title An Act To Amend the Advance Deposit Wagering Laws
Summary This bill allows commercial tracks, off-track betting facilities and multijurisdictional account wagering providers to be licensed to participate in advance deposit wagering. It repeals the provision that directs the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board, through a competitive bidding process, to award one bidder the privilege to be licensed to conduct advance deposit wagering. It requires the board to establish by rule the net commission that must be collected by a licensee for distribution by the board.
Status DEAD NOVEMBER 16, 2020  (Died Upon Conclusion of the 129th Legislature)
LD/Bill LD 2062
Sponsor Senator Scott W. Cyrway, (R - Kennebec)
Title An Act To Amend the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board Laws Regarding Registered Equipment
Summary This bill allows for the registration of slot machines and associated equipment by certain licensed entities other than slot machine distributors
Status PASSED MARCH 17, 2020