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An Act Concerning High-stakes Beano
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §314-A, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 1991, c. 426, §4, is repealed.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 X, §2, is repealed.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:
 
5-A.  High-stakes electronic beano.     An organization licensed under this section may operate high-stakes electronic beano as described in this subsection.
 
A.  As used in this subsection, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
(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.
 
B.  The manner in which the winner is determined must be clearly announced or displayed before any game is begun. Any game winning pattern may be used.
 
C.  Individual electronic beano terminals may offer electronic beano cards of varying themes and denominations.
 
D.  All electronic beano cards of the same denomination played by the individual electronic beano terminals in a round must correspond with the same high-stakes electronic beano game generated by the central computer system.
 
E.  Individual electronic beano terminals may accept cash, tokens, cards or vouchers for the purchase of electronic beano cards but may not dispense cash. A prize awarded for winning a high-stakes electronic beano game must be in the form of a voucher that may be redeemed for cash or prizes.
 
F.  Individual electronic beano terminals and the central computer system must be audited by a 3rd-party game testing company, which shall provide audits of the central computer system and individual electronic beano terminals upon request of the Chief of the State Police. An operator of high-stakes electronic beano shall ensure a method of secure access via the Internet by the Chief of the State Police for the purposes of conducting audits and monitoring the operation and play of high-stakes electronic beano. Any software, equipment or training necessary for the Chief of the State Police to use the auditing and monitoring system must be paid for by the operator of high-stakes electronic beano.
 
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.