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An Act To Amend Maine's Gambling Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  8 MRSA §1011, sub-§1-B  is enacted to read:
 
1-B.  Operation of slot machines for training and educational purposes.     Notwithstanding subsections 1 and 1-A, an accredited postsecondary institution may possess and operate slot machines and table games for the purposes of training and education. Any casino or slot machine training or education program is subject to approval by the board.
Sec. 2.  8 MRSA §1013, sub-§3  is enacted to read:
 
3.  Distribution of table games by licensed slot machine distributors.     A person who qualifies for and is licensed as a slot machine distributor under subsection 2 may also distribute table games.
Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §1020, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and affected by Pt. B, §11, is amended to read:
 
1. Registration required.   A slot machine may not be operated or distributed pursuant to this chapter unless the slot machine is registered by the board and the slot machine operator and the slot machine distributor are each licensed by the board or the slot machine is distributed to and operated by an accredited postsecondary institution for the purposes of training and education under section 1011, subsection 1-B.
Sec. 4. 8 MRSA §1021, sub-§1, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 2, §38, is amended to read:
 
1. Registration required.   A table game may not be operated or distributed pursuant to this chapter unless the table game is registered by the board and the casino operator and the table game distributor are each licensed by the board or the table game is distributed to and operated by an accredited postsecondary institution for the purposes of training and education under section 1011, subsection 1-B.
Sec. 5. 8 MRSA §1035, as amended by IB 2009, c. 2, §43, is further amended to read:
§ 1035.Location of slot machines
Slot machines may be located only on the premises of a commercial track or, the premises of a casino or the premises of an accredited postsecondary institution for the purposes of training and education under section 1011, subsection 1-B. For the purposes of this section, "premises of a commercial track" means property owned by the person who owns the property on which a commercial track is located and that is either within 200 feet of the outside edge of the racing oval or, if the commercial track was owned by a municipality when a license to operate slot machines in association with that commercial track was issued, within 2,000 feet of the center of the racing oval.
Sec. 6. 8 MRSA §1035-A, as enacted by IB 2009, c. 2, §44, is amended to read:
§ 1035-A.Location of table games
Table games may be located only on the premises of a casino or the premises of an accredited postsecondary institution for the purposes of training and education under section 1011, subsection 1-B.
Sec. 7. 8 MRSA §1054, sub-§§3 and 4, as amended by IB 2009, c. 2, §49, are further amended to read:
 
3. Operation or distribution without license.   Operates or distributes a slot machine or table game in this State without a license. This subsection does not apply to the operation of a slot machine or table game by an accredited postsecondary institution for the purposes of training and education or the distribution of a slot machine or table game to an accredited postsecondary institution for the purposes of training and education;
 
4. Operation or distribution of unregistered slot machine or table game.   Operates or distributes a slot machine or table game that is not registered in this State. This subsection does not apply to the operation of a slot machine or table game by an accredited postsecondary institution for the purposes of training and education or the distribution of a slot machine or table game to an accredited postsecondary institution for the purposes of training and education;
Sec. 8. 8 MRSA §1054, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and affected by Pt. B, §11, is amended to read:
 
8. Failure to deposit funds.   Violates section 1036, subsection 2; or
Sec. 9. 8 MRSA §1054, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §5 and affected by Pt. B, §11, is amended to read:
 
9. Failure to grant access to premises, equipment and records.   Violates section 1042.; or
Sec. 10.  8 MRSA §1054, sub-§10  is enacted to read:
 
10.  Theft at a casino or slot machine facility.     Commits a theft at or from a licensed casino or slot machine facility.
 
SUMMARY
This bill makes the following changes to the laws governing gambling:
1. It permits licensed slot machine distributors to also distribute table games;
2. It creates the Class C criminal offense of theft at or from a casino or slot machine facility; and
3. It clarifies that accredited postsecondary institutions may possess and operate slot machines and table games for training and educational purposes.