Maine Code § 17-1831

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As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the
following meanings. [PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
1. Agricultural society. "Agricultural society" or "fair" means a nonprofit agricultural fair society
eligible for a stipend under Title 7, chapter 4.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
1-A. Card game. "Card game" means a game of chance conducted using one or more decks of
cards, such as poker, blackjack or cribbage.
[PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, §4 (NEW).]
2. Chief of State Police.
[PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, §5 (RP).]
2-A. Director. "Director" means the Executive Director of the Gambling Control Unit.
[PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, §6 (NEW).]
3. Distributor. "Distributor" means a person, firm, corporation, association or organization, other
than an Internet raffle operator, that sells, markets or otherwise distributes sealed ticket games,
gambling apparatus or any other implements of gambling that may be used in the conduct of a game of
chance.
[PL 2025, c. 424, §9 (AMD).]
4. Electronic video machine. "Electronic video machine" means a machine, however operated,
that has a video screen featuring an electronically simulated game and delivers or entitles the person
playing or operating it to receive the privilege of playing the electronic video machine without charge,
but does not deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the electronic video machine to receive
cash, premiums, merchandise, tickets or something of value other than the privilege of playing the
electronic video machine without charge. An electronic video machine is a machine that may be
licensed in accordance with section 1832, subsection 8. A machine that has a video screen featuring
an electronically simulated slot machine as a game is not an electronic video machine, but is a machine
as defined in subsection 9.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
4-A. Gambling Control Unit. "Gambling Control Unit" or "unit" means the bureau within the
Department of Public Safety under Title 25, section 2902, subsection 12 or an authorized representative
of the Gambling Control Unit.
[RR 2017, c. 1, §10 (COR).]
5. Game of chance. "Game of chance" means a game, contest, scheme or device in which:
A. A person stakes or risks something of value for the opportunity to win something of value; [PL
2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
B. The rules of operation or play require an event the result of which is determined by chance,
outside the control of the contestant or participant; and [PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

C. Chance enters as an element that influences the outcome in a manner that cannot be eliminated
through the application of skill. [PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
For the purposes of this subsection, "an event the result of which is determined by chance" includes but
is not limited to a shuffle of a deck of cards, a roll of a die or dice or a random drawing or generation
of an object that may include, but is not limited to, a card, a die, a number or simulations of any of
these. A shuffle of a deck of cards, a roll of a die, a random drawing or generation of an object or some
other event the result of which is determined by chance that is employed to determine impartially the
initial order of play in a game, contest, scheme or device does not alone make a game, contest, scheme
or device a game of chance. For the purposes of this chapter, "game of chance" includes a sealed ticket
game. For purposes of this chapter, beano, bingo and table games as defined in Title 8, section 1001,
subsection 43-A are not games of chance.
[PL 2025, c. 424, §10 (AMD).]
6. Game of skill. "Game of skill" means any game, contest, scheme or device in which a person
stakes or risks something of value for the opportunity to win something of value and that is not a game
of chance.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
7. Gross revenue. "Gross revenue" means the total amount wagered in a game of chance less the
prizes awarded.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
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.
[PL 2019, c. 119, §1 (NEW).]
7-B. Internet raffle. "Internet raffle" means a raffle in which a person purchases a raffle chance
or ticket through, and a winner or winning chances are determined by, a digital platform that involves,
at least in part, the use of the Internet. A raffle where a winner or winning chance is determined by
drawing from a container is not an Internet raffle, even if some or all of the raffle chances or tickets are
purchased through a digital platform.
[PL 2021, c. 636, §1 (AMD).]
7-C. Internet raffle operator. "Internet raffle operator" means a person, firm, corporation,
association or organization licensed under section 1837-B, subsection 2 to conduct an Internet raffle
using an Internet raffle system.
[PL 2021, c. 136, §3 (NEW).]
7-D. Internet raffle system. "Internet raffle system" means a mobile application or other digital
platform and the accompanying computer software approved by the Gambling Control Unit under
section 1837-B, subsection 4 for use in conducting an Internet raffle.
[PL 2021, c. 136, §4 (NEW).]
8. Licensee. "Licensee" means a firm, corporation, association or organization licensed by the
Gambling Control Unit to operate a game of chance.
[PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, §9 (AMD).]
9. Machine. "Machine" means any machine, including electronic devices, however operated, the
internal mechanism or components of which when set in motion or activated and by the application of
the element of chance may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the machine to receive
cash, premiums, merchandise, tickets or something of value as defined in subsection 17. A machine as
defined by this subsection is not eligible to be licensed under this chapter.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

10. Member. "Member" means a bona fide member of a firm, corporation, association,
organization, department or class or a combination thereof who has been duly admitted as a member
according to the laws, rules, regulations, ordinances or bylaws governing membership in the firm,
corporation, association, organization, department, class or combination thereof.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
11. Net revenue. "Net revenue" means gross revenue less allowable expenses as described in
section 1838.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
12. Printer.
[PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, §10 (RP).]
13. Raffle. "Raffle" means a game of chance in which:
A. A person pays or agrees to pay something of value for a chance, represented and differentiated
by a number, to win a prize; [PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
B. One or more of the chances is to be designated the winning chance; and [PL 2009, c. 487, Pt.
A, §2 (NEW).]
C. The winning chance is to be determined as a result of a drawing from a container holding
numbers representative of all chances sold. [PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, §11 (AMD).]
13-A. Registrant. "Registrant" means a person or organization registered with the Gambling
Control Unit to conduct a game of chance, a raffle or certain tournament games, for which a license is
not required under this chapter.
[PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, §12 (NEW).]
14. Roulette. "Roulette" means a game of chance in which players bet on the compartment of a
revolving wheel into which a small ball will come to rest.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
14-A. Savings promotion raffle.
[PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, §13 (RP).]
14-B. Sealed ticket game. "Sealed ticket game" means a game consisting of tickets or cards with
preprinted symbols, numbers or other figures that are hidden by an opaque, removable material. Each
ticket or card represents a chance to win a specific single prize, including a monetary prize, or specific
set of prizes. A winning ticket or card contains a predetermined winning configuration of symbols,
numbers or other figures. "Sealed ticket game" includes a sealed ticket game that is designed by the
manufacturer to include a jackpot prize that is carried over to a subsequent series of tickets or cards
with the same form number in the event that jackpot prize is not won. "Sealed ticket game" does not
include the lottery under Title 8, chapter 14-A or 16.
[PL 2025, c. 424, §11 (NEW).]
15. Slot machine. "Slot machine" has the same meaning as provided under Title 8, section 1001,
subsection 39.
[PL 2017, c. 284, Pt. KKKKK, §14 (RPR).]
16. Social gambling. "Social gambling" means a contest of chance in which the only participants
are players and from which no person or organization receives or becomes entitled to receive something
of value or any profit whatsoever, directly or indirectly, other than as a player, from any source, fee,
remuneration connected with gambling or such activity as arrangements or facilitation of the game,
permitting the use of premises or selling or supplying for-profit refreshments, food, drink service or
entertainment to participants, players or spectators.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

17. Something of value. "Something of value" means:
A. Any money or property; [PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
B. Any token, object or article exchangeable for money, property, amusement or entertainment; or
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]
C. Any form of credit or promise directly or indirectly contemplating transfer of money or property,
or of any interest therein. [PL 2019, c. 60, §1 (AMD).]
[PL 2019, c. 60, §1 (AMD).]
18. Tokens. "Tokens" means distinctive objects, chips, tickets or other devices of no intrinsic
value used as a substitute for cash in accounting for revenue from a game of chance.
[PL 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

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