AUGUSTA, Maine—Organizations that want to host cribbage games will have a new state law to follow in July that allows them to charge higher entry fees and sets a standard annual license fee.
The law, "An Act to Amend Games of Cards," was one of three cribbage-related bills considered by lawmakers in the recent legislative session. Gov. John Baldacci wouldn't sign two of the bills, but signed this law because it updates existing laws over card games.
The new law allows nonprofit groups to charge a $5 entry fee for card games and sets an annual license fee of $30.
Under current law, $5 entry fees are allowed only if the groups pay a license fee of $15 a week or $60 or month, or $700 for a yearly license. Otherwise, clubs are allowed to charge only $1 entry fees to card games.
The new law was prompted after a weekly cribbage tournament at an American Legion post in Gardiner was shut down last fall after a state inspector said the games were illegal because the post didn't have a license to host games of chance.
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Information from: Kennebec Journal, http://www.kjonline.com/
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