PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Allow Nonprofit Organizations and Indian Tribes To Sponsor Texas Hold 'Em Tournaments
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §332, sub-§7  is enacted to read:
 
7.  Texas hold ‘em poker.     The Chief of the State Police may issue a license to conduct a Texas hold ‘em poker tournament under this subsection to an eligible organization under subsection 1 or to a federally recognized Indian tribe licensed for high-stakes beano under section 314-A, subsection 1. The number of tables for a Texas hold ‘em tournament is limited to the capacity of the licensee’s facility in which the tournament is held, and each table in the tournament is limited to no more than 10 players. A licensee may keep 25% of a fee from a participant under this subsection and 75% of the fee must be paid as prizes to the winners of the tournament. Of the 25% retained by the licensee after the payment of prizes, 75% must be distributed to the Maine State Grant Program established in Title 20-A, chapter 419-A. A participant in a tournament under this subsection must be at least 18 years of age. A prize awarded by a tournament licensed under this subsection must be posted in clear view in the licensee’s facility in which the tournament is held at least 2 hours before the start of the tournament. Other requirements of a Texas hold ‘em tournament licensed under this subsection include:
 
A.  A licensee may not hold more than 3 tournaments in a week and the time for a tournament may not last more than 4 1/2 hours. A participant of a tournament under this paragraph must pay an entrance fee of $50;
 
B.  A licensee may hold a super Texas hold ‘em tournament once a month in which a participant must pay an entrance fee of $75. A separate permit from the Chief of the State Police is required for a tournament under this paragraph. A tournament under this paragraph may not last more than 6 1/2 hours;
 
C.  A licensee may hold a giant Texas hold ‘em tournament twice a calendar year in which a participant must pay an entrance fee of $100. A separate permit from the Chief of the State Police is required for a tournament under this paragraph. A tournament under this paragraph must last until all but 10 participants are eliminated from the tournament, at which time the tournament may not last more than 30 minutes; and
 
D.  A tournament licensed under this subsection may include a sub-tournament for eliminated players. A subtournament under this paragraph must begin within 2 hours from the start time of the original tournament and may last no longer than 2 hours. A fee for a participant of a subtournament under this subsection may not exceed 50% of the cost of the original tournament.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes to hold Texas hold ‘em poker tournaments in which the licensee may keep up to 25% of the entrance fee and 75% of the fee must go to prizes for winners of the tournament. Of the remaining fee after the prizes are paid, 75% must go to the Maine State Grant Program. A licensee may hold no more than 3 tournaments a week with an entrance fee of $50, may hold a super tournament once a month with an entrance fee of $75 and a giant tournament twice a year with an entrance fee of $100. The bill allows any tournament to conduct a subtournament of eliminated participants that must start within 2 hours of the original tournament. The entrance fee may not exceed 50% of the fee for the original tournament.