An Act Concerning High-stakes Beano
Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §314-A, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 1991, c. 426, §4, is repealed.
Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §314-A, sub-§3-A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. I, §5 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 17 MRSA §314-A, sub-§5-A is enacted to read:
(1) "Electronic beano terminal" means an electronic appliance used by a player to identify electronic beano cards that contain numbers or symbols input by a player that correspond to numbers or symbols determined by the electronic beano terminal.
(2) "High-stakes electronic beano" means a game that simulates the play of nonelectronic beano and is played on individual electronic beano terminals that are connected to a central computer system that generates beano games. A person playing high-stakes electronic beano plays the game on an individual electronic beano terminal. A draw consists of up to 75 numbers and letters that correspond to the electronic beano cards in play.
This subsection does not preclude the use of electronic displays on a screen for the purposes of entertainment as long as the electronic displays have no effect on the outcome of the high-stakes electronic beano game.
Sec. 4. 17 MRSA §314-B, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 197, §4, is repealed.
SUMMARY
Current law allows the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to operate high-stakes beano games no more than 27 weekends a year and the Passamaquoddy Tribe to operate high-stakes electronic beano games up to 100 times per year. This bill eliminates those restrictions. The bill also allows the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and the Passamaquoddy Tribe to operate high-stakes electronic beano. Electronic beano simulates traditional beano and is played on individual electronic beano terminals connected to a central computer system that generates beano games. Individual electronic beano terminals may accept cash, tokens, cards or vouchers but may not dispense cash. A prize awarded for winning electronic beano must be in the form of a voucher that may be redeemed for cash or prizes.