Gaming LDs / Bills for the 130th Maine Legislative Session
The 130th Maine Legislature convened on December 2, 2020 and Adjourned on September 20, 2022
| LD/Bill | LD 16 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Senator Louis J. Luchini, (D - Hancock) |
| Title | An Act To Change the Renewal Application Deadline from 6 Months to 60 Days before the Expiration of a License Issued by the Gambling Control Board |
| Summary | This bill changes the deadline for application for renewal of a license issued by the Gambling Control Board from 6 months to 60 days prior to the expiration of the current license. |
| Status | PASSED MARCH 17, 2021 |
| LD/Bill | LD 139 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Representative Christopher James Caiazzo, (D - Scarborough) |
| Title | Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapters 33 to 43, Concerning the Regulation of Fantasy Contests, Major Substantive Rules of the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Unit |
| Summary | This resolve provides for legislative review of Chapter 33: Introduction; Chapter 34: Definitions; Chapter 35: License Application; Chapter 36: License Fee and Renewal; Chapter 37: Fantasy Contest Monitoring; Chapter 38: Fantasy Contest Account Activity; Chapter 39: Registration of Fantasy Contestants; Chapter 40: Fantasy Contestant Funds and Required Reserves; Chapter 41: Licensee Records, Annual Reporting and Audits; Chapter 42: Collection of Payments; and Chapter 43: Complaints and Disciplinary Actions, major substantive rules of the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Unit. |
| Status | PASSED APRIL 7, 2021 |
| LD/Bill | LD 554 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Representative Benjamin T. Collings, (D - Portland) |
| Title | An Act To Create Gaming Equity and Fairness for the Native American Tribes in Maine |
| Summary | Section 6(e) of the federal Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980, authorizes the amendment of the Act to Implement the Maine Indian Claims Settlement if such amendment is made with the agreement of the affected Tribe and relates to the enforcement or application of civil, criminal or regulatory laws of the Tribes or State, to the allocation or determination of governmental responsibility of the Tribes and the State over specified subject matters or geographical areas or to the allocation of jurisdiction between tribal and state courts. This amends the Maine law to provide that gaming is allowed under the terms established by the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act |
| Status | NOT PASSED JULY 1, 2021 (Veto Sustained) |
| LD/Bill | LD 587 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Representative H. Sawin Millett Jr., (R - Waterford) |
| Title | An Act Regarding the Licensing of Persons To Conduct Advance Deposit Wagering |
| Summary | This bill increases from one to no more than the number of persons the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board may license through a competitive bidding process to conduct advance deposit wagering. |
| Status | NOT PASSED JUNE 17, 2021 (Accepted Majority "Ought Not to Pass" Report) |
| LD/Bill | LD 623 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Representative Joyce "Jay" McCreight, (D - Harpswell) |
| 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 obtain a license to conduct 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 advance deposit wagering licensees to remit 5% of the licensees' gross advance deposit wagering income to the board for distribution by the board. The bill also requires licensure of employees of advance deposit wagering licensees. |
| Status | NOT PASSED MAY 19, 2021 (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310) |
| LD/Bill | LD 671 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | President Troy D. Jackson, (D - Aroostook) |
| Title | An Act To Allow the Sale of Raffle Tickets Online |
| Summary | This bill allows a person to buy a raffle ticket online. |
| Status | PASSED JUNE 10, 2021 |
| LD/Bill | LD 685 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Senator Jeffrey L. Timberlake, (R - Androscoggin) |
| Title | An Act To Legalize Online Raffles for Nonprofit Organizations |
| Summary | This bill allows nonprofit organizations to sell raffle chances or tickets online or by other electronic means. |
| Status | NOT PASSED APRIL 28, 2021 (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310) |
| LD/Bill | LD 860 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Representative Bruce A. White, (D - Waterville) |
| Title | An Act To Clarify the Laws Concerning Off-track Betting Facility Licenses |
| Summary | This bill authorizes the transfer or assignment of an off-track betting facility license if the transfer or assignment is approved by the State Harness Racing Commission after applying to the transferee or assignee the tests generally applicable to the fitness of original licensees. The bill also clarifies that persons licensed to operate off-track betting facilities under Public Law 2019, chapter 626, section 16, which allowed commercial tracks that closed in order to further the interests of the harness racing industry to be licensed as off-track betting facilities, are subject to the same laws and have the same rights and responsibilities as off track betting facilities licensed under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 8, section 275-D. |
| Status | NOT PASSED JUNE 17, 2021 (Accepted Majority Ought Not To Pass) |
| LD/Bill | LD 1037 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Senator Russell J. Black, (R - Franklin) |
| Title | An Act To Enable Nonprofit Organizations To Offer Raffle Tickets by Mail |
| Summary | This bill allows bona fide nonprofit organizations, agricultural societies and volunteer fire departments, when conducting an authorized raffle, to offer raffle tickets for purchase by mail and requires the organization to ensure that any person purchasing a raffle ticket by mail is at least 21 years of age |
| Status | NOT PASSED MARCH 30, 2021 (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310) |
| LD/Bill | LD 1205 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Senator Bill Diamond, (D - Cumberland) |
| Title | An Act To Ensure Equitable Taxation of Off-track Betting Facilities |
| Summary | This bill reduces by 1/2, for an off-track betting facility licensed on or before January 1, 2021, the calculated and distributed percentages of the commission with respect to the State's share and as percentages of the net commission with respect to all other participants' shares in years in which the off-track betting facility is not eligible to receive a distribution from the Fund to Stabilize Off-track Betting Facilities. |
| Status | NOT PASSED JUNE 16, 2021 (Accepted Majority Ought Not To Pass) |
| LD/Bill | LD 1352 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Senator Louis J. Luchini, (D - Hancock) |
| Title | An Act To Regulate Sports Betting |
| Summary | This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Unit to regulate sports wagering in the State. Licensed commercial tracks, off-track betting facilities licensed prior to January 1, 2021, licensed slot machine facilities and casinos and federally recognized Indian tribes are eligible to apply for facility sports wagering licenses to conduct in-person sports wagering in the State. These entities are also eligible to apply for mobile sports wagering licenses to conduct sports wagering through mobile applications or digital platforms, as are qualified gaming entities that offer sports wagering through mobile applications or digital platforms in any jurisdiction in the United States pursuant to a state regulatory structure. Facility sports wagering licensees and mobile sports wagering licensees, referred to in the bill as operators, may purchase or lease equipment, systems or services for sports wagering from entities with a supplier license, whose equipment, systems or services must meet standards established by rule. Operators may also enter into written contracts, approved by the director of the Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety, with management services licensees that have sufficient knowledge and experience in the business of operating sports wagering to effectively conduct sports wagering on behalf of operators. A person employed by a facility sports wagering licensee to be engaged directly in sports wagering-related activities must be licensed by the Gambling Control Unit. Operators may accept wagers on professional, collegiate and amateur sports events, including international events, as well as on the individual performances of athletes, on motor vehicle races and on electronic sports. Sports wagers are prohibited on high school events, other events where a majority of participants are under 18 years of age and events involving Maine-based colleges and universities. Operators may not accept sports wagers from individuals under 21 years of age; participants in the sports event, including athletes and officials; persons with an interest in the outcome of the sports event identified by the director by rule; the operator's own directors or employees or persons living in their households; persons voluntarily or involuntarily placed on a list maintained by the Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety of persons not authorized to make sports wagers; persons making wagers on behalf of another person; and Gambling Control Unit employees. Mobile sports wagering licensees are also prohibited from accepting sports wagers from persons who are not physically located within the State. The bill also directs the director of the Gambling Control Unit to adopt rules prohibiting the marketing or advertising of sports wagering to persons under 21 years of age. A facility sports wagering licensee must remit 10% of the licensee's adjusted gross sports wagering receipts to the State, and a mobile sports wagering licensee must remit 16% of the licensee's adjusted gross sports wagering receipts to the State. One percent of adjusted gross sports wagering receipts must be deposited in the General Fund for the administrative expenses of the Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety and 1% of the adjusted gross sports wagering receipts must be deposited in the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 20006-B. The remaining adjusted gross sports wagering receipts remitted to the State must be deposited in the General Fund. The bill also allows a licensed fantasy contest operator to offer a fantasy contest based on the performances of participants in collegiate athletic events. |
| Status | DEAD MAY 9, 2022 (Died On Adjournment) |
| LD/Bill | LD 1405 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | President Troy D. Jackson, (D - Aroostook) |
| Title | An Act To Regulate, Tax and Control Sports Wagering |
| Summary | Part A of this bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Unit to regulate sports wagering in the State. Licensed commercial tracks, licensed off-track betting facilities, including off-track betting facilities licensed under Public Law 2019, chapter 626, section 16, licensed slot machine facilities and casinos and federally recognized Indian tribes are eligible to apply for facility sports wagering licenses to conduct in-person sports wagering in the State. These entities are also eligible to apply for mobile sports wagering licenses to conduct sports wagering through mobile applications or digital platforms. Facility sports wagering licensees and mobile sports wagering licensees, referred to in the bill as operators, may purchase or lease equipment, systems or services for sports wagering from entities with a supplier license, whose equipment, systems or services must meet standards established by rule. Operators may also enter into written contracts, approved by the director of the Gambling Control Unit, with management services licensees that have sufficient knowledge and experience in the business of operating sports wagering to effectively conduct sports wagering on behalf of operators. A person employed by a facility sports wagering licensee to be engaged directly in sports wagering-related activities must be licensed by the Gambling Control Unit. Operators may accept wagers on professional, collegiate and amateur sports events, including international events, as well as on the individual performances of athletes, on motor vehicle races and on electronic sports. Sports wagers are prohibited on high school events, other events where a majority of participants are under 18 years of age and events involving Maine-based colleges and universities. Operators may not accept sports wagers from individuals under 21 years of age; participants in the sports event, including athletes and officials; persons with an interest in the outcome of the sports event identified by the director by rule; the operator's own directors or employees or persons living in their households; persons voluntarily or involuntarily placed on a list maintained by the Gambling Control Unit of persons not authorized to make sports wagers; persons making wagers on behalf of another person; and Gambling Control Unit employees. Mobile sports wagering licensees are also prohibited from accepting sports wagers from persons who are not physically located within the State. A facility sports wagering licensee must remit 10% of the licensee's adjusted gross sports wagering receipts to the State, and a mobile sports wagering licensee must remit 16% of the licensee's adjusted gross sports wagering receipts to the State. One quarter of 1% of the adjusted gross sports wagering receipts must be deposited in the General Fund for the administrative expenses of the Gambling Control Unit; 0.25% of the adjusted gross sports wagering receipts must be deposited in the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund; 0.55% of the adjusted gross sports wagering receipts must be distributed by the State Harness Racing Commission to entities that conduct live harness racing in the State; 0.55% of the adjusted gross sports wagering receipts must be deposited in the Sire Stakes Fund; and 0.4% of the adjusted gross sports wagering receipts must be deposited in the Agricultural Fair Promotion Fund established in the bill. The remaining adjusted gross sports wagering receipts remitted to the State must be deposited in the General Fund. Part A of the bill also allows a licensed fantasy contest operator to offer a fantasy contest based on the performances of participants in collegiate athletic events. Part B of the bill clarifies that although the process for issuance of off-track betting facility licenses under Public Law 2019, chapter 626, section 16 differed from the process for issuance of other off-track betting facility licenses in the State, the off-track betting facilities licensed under Public Law 2019, chapter 626, section 16 are subject to the same facility and operating requirements and restrictions, license renewal terms and fees and administrative oversight as other licensed off-track betting facilities. Part B of the bill also reduces by half the percentage of the commissions earned by off-track betting facilities licensed before January 1, 2021 that are ineligible to receive distributions from the Fund to Stabilize Off-track Betting Facilities when they accept wagers on simulcasting of out-of-state races with commingled pools that are collected by the State to be distributed to various harness racing funds and entities but does not reduce the percentage of these commissions that are remitted to the General Fund. |
| Status | NOT PASSED JUNE 7, 2021 (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310) |
| LD/Bill | LD 1527 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Representative Timothy M. Roche, (R - Wells) |
| Title | An Act To Ensure Proper Oversight of Sports Betting in the State |
| Summary | This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Unit to regulate sports wagering in the State. Licensed commercial tracks, licensed off-track betting facilities, licensed casinos and federally recognized Indian tribes are eligible to apply for facility sports wagering licenses to conduct in-person sports wagering in the State. These entities are also eligible to apply for mobile sports wagering licenses to conduct sports wagering through mobile applications or digital platforms, as are qualified gaming entities that offer sports wagering through mobile applications or digital platforms in any jurisdiction in the United States pursuant to a state regulatory structure. Facility sports wagering licensees and mobile sports wagering licensees, referred to in the bill as operators, may purchase or lease equipment, systems or services for sports wagering from entities with a supplier license, whose equipment, systems or services must meet standards established by rule. Operators may also enter into written contracts, approved by the director of the Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety, with management services licensees that have sufficient knowledge and experience in the business of operating sports wagering to effectively conduct sports wagering on behalf of operators. A person employed by a facility sports wagering licensee to be engaged directly in sports wagering-related activities must be licensed by the Gambling Control Unit. Operators may accept wagers on professional, collegiate and amateur sports events, including international events, as well as on the individual performances of athletes, on motor vehicle races and on electronic sports. Sports wagers are prohibited on high school events, other events where a majority of participants are less than 18 years of age and events involving Maine-based colleges and universities. Operators may not accept sports wagers from individuals under 21 years of age; participants in the sports event, including athletes and officials; persons with an interest in the outcome of the sports event identified by the director by rule; the operator's own directors or employees or persons living in their households; persons voluntarily or involuntarily placed on a list maintained by the Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety of persons not authorized to make sports wagers; 3rd persons making wagers on behalf of another person; and Gambling Control Unit employees. Mobile sports wagering licensees are also prohibited from accepting sports wagers from persons who are not physically located within the State. A facility sports wagering licensee must remit 10% of the licensee's adjusted gross sports wagering receipts to the State and a mobile sports wagering licensee must remit 16% of the licensee's adjusted gross sports wagering receipts to the State. One percent of adjusted gross sports wagering receipts must be deposited in the General Fund for the administrative expenses of the Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety and 1% of the adjusted gross sports wagering receipts must be deposited in the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 20006-B. The remaining adjusted gross sports wagering receipts remitted to the State must be deposited in the General Fund. The bill also allows a licensed fantasy contest operator to offer a fantasy contest based on the performances of participants in collegiate athletic events. The bill also contains provisions regarding restrictions on the types of sports wagers allowed, abnormal wagering activity reporting, official league data distribution and costs, wager amount sharing agreements, records management and security and information disclosure and confidentiality. |
| Status | NOT PASSED JUNE 7, 2021 (Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310) |
| LD/Bill | LD 1743 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Senator Louis J. Luchini, (D - Hancock) |
| Title | An Act To Amend Certain Definitions in the Statutes Governing the Gambling Control Board |
| Summary | This bill amends the statutes governing the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to change the defined term "electronic facsimile" to "electronic table game" and to conform the definition of "table game" to that change. It also corrects a cross reference. |
| Status | PASSED MARCH 25, 2022 |
| LD/Bill | LD 1745 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Senator Louis J. Luchini, (D - Hancock) |
| Title | An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Gambling Control Board |
| Summary | This bill allows an employee license issued by the Department of Public Safety, Gambling Control Board to be renewed for either a one-year term or a 3-year term. The renewal fee for a one-year employee license is $25, and the renewal fee for a 3-year employee license is $50. |
| Status | PASSED MAY 2, 2022 |
| LD/Bill | LD 1980 |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | President Troy D. Jackson, (D - Aroostook) |
| Title | An Act To Allow Internet Payment for Tickets and Chances for Raffles Held by Nonprofit Organizations and Other Eligible Organizations and To Require the Gambling Control Unit To Adopt Certain Rules |
| Summary | This bill creates a small nonprofit raffle operator license for certain nonprofit corporations and allows holders of this license to operate raffles, including Internet raffles. |
| Status | PASSED APRIL 20, 2022 |