An Act To Clarify the Requirements for High-hand Competitions in Games of Chance Tournament Games
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §1831, sub-§7-A is enacted to read:
7-A. High-hand competition. "High-hand competition" means a game of chance conducted during a tournament game in which the winner is the person who plays the highest hand of cards, according to the rules of the tournament, during the tournament game.
Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §1836, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2013, c. 306, §2, is further amended to read:
4. Tournament. The organization licensed to conduct a tournament game under this section shall display the rules of the tournament game and the license issued. The maximum number of players allowed is 100 unless the tournament game is held on premises owned by the licensee, in which case the maximum number of players allowed is 300. Winners are determined by a process of elimination. The use of currency is prohibited as part of tournament game play. The maximum entry fee to play in the tournament game is $100, except the organization may add to the player entry fee to defray the cost of the license fee, as long as the total additional amount collected from all players does not exceed $125. Only one entry fee is permitted per person. A tournament game must be completed within 48 hours. Other games of chance on the premises are prohibited during a tournament game, except for high-hand competitions under subsection 7, lucky seven or similar sealed tickets and no more than one 50/50 raffle per tournament with a prize value up to $1,000. This subsection does not prohibit a licensee from conducting one winner-take-all hand per tournament game with a bet limit of $5. The total number of bets received in a winner-take-all round must be awarded to the winner or in the case of multiple winners divided among them as evenly as possible. All prizes awarded in accordance with this subsection must be paid in cash or by check.
Sec. 3. 17 MRSA §1836, sub-§7 is enacted to read:
7. High-hand competition. A licensee under this section may conduct one high-hand competition per tournament game. Participation in the high-hand competition is not mandatory and must be determined prior to the start of the tournament. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the total number of bets received in a high-hand competition must be awarded to the winner or, in the case of multiple winners, divided among them as evenly as possible. All prizes awarded in accordance with this subsection must be paid in cash or by check.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.