17 §1837. Raffles - Maine Statutes

Title 17: CRIMES

Chapter 62: GAMES OF CHANCE

§1837. Raffles

1. Raffles with prizes of $10,000 or less. Notwithstanding section 1832, subsection 1, a license to conduct or operate a raffle in which the holder of the winning chance does not receive something of value worth more than $10,000 is not required of the following:

A. Any agricultural society or any bona fide nonprofit organization that is either charitable, educational, political, civic, recreational, fraternal, patriotic or religious or any auxiliary of such an organization; [2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

B. Any volunteer police force, fire department or ambulance corps; [2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

C. Any class or organization of an elementary, secondary or postsecondary educational institution operated or accredited by the State; or [2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

D. Any state agency that conducts or operates a raffle for a donated item to benefit fish and wildlife conservation projects. [2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

Any exempt organization, department or class or combination listed in paragraph A, B, C or D may sponsor, operate and conduct a raffle without a license only for the exclusive benefit of that organization, department or class or combination, and that raffle may be conducted only by duly authorized members of the sponsoring organization, department or class or combination.

A state agency may not conduct or operate more than 2 raffles per year pursuant to paragraph D.

[ 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW) .]

2. Special raffles; prizes more than $10,000 but not more than $75,000. The following provisions apply to special raffles licensed under this subsection.

A. The Chief of the State Police may issue one special raffle license per year to any organization, department or class eligible to hold a raffle under subsection 1. The special raffle license entitles the licensee to hold one raffle in which the holder of a winning chance receives something of value worth more than $10,000 but not more than $75,000. A raffle licensed under this paragraph may be structured as a progressive raffle that is divided into a maximum of 12 multiple drawings with previous entries rolled into subsequent drawing pots and with the final drawing to be held within 12 months of the first. Drawings must be used to randomly select a smaller group to be eligible for the final prize to be awarded after the final drawing. Section 1835, subsection 1 does not apply to raffles licensed under this section. [2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

B. The Chief of the State Police may not issue a license under this subsection to hold a raffle in which the holder of a winning chance receives a cash prize worth more than $10,000. [2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

C. All tickets sold pursuant to a special raffle license must be purchased from a licensed distributor or licensed printer. Tickets must be sequentially numbered and have printed on their faces the following information: the name of the special raffle licensee; a description of the prize or prizes; the price of the ticket; and the date, time and place of the drawing. Any organization, department or class listed in subsection 1 that conducts a raffle under this section shall retain all unsold raffle tickets for 6 months after the raffle drawing and make those tickets available for inspection at the request of the Chief of the State Police. [2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).]

[ 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW) .]

3. Charitable organizations; livestock raffling. A license is required before a charitable organization may raffle livestock for fund-raising purposes under Title 7, section 3972, subsection 4. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources or the commissioner's designee shall make forms available for charitable organizations to apply for licenses for one-year or 3-year periods. If the commissioner or the commissioner's designee is satisfied that the charitable organization has not violated or will not violate the restrictions of Title 7, section 3972, a license must be issued.

[ 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW) .]

4. Raffle tickets sold by volunteers. Notwithstanding section 1835, subsection 2, tickets for raffles licensed in accordance with this section may be sold by persons other than members of the licensed organization as long as the persons selling the tickets are uncompensated volunteers for the organization and the names of the volunteers who sell the tickets are provided to the Chief of the State Police within 10 days of issuance of the raffle license.

[ 2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW) .]

SECTION HISTORY

2009, c. 487, Pt. A, §2 (NEW).