AUGUSTA – A bill that would increase the prize limits allowed in beano, sponsored by Rep. Tom Saviello, U-Wilton, faced opposition from American Legion members during a public hearing before a legislative committee Friday.

The legislation would target so-called ‘basket’ beano events and cap daily prize limits at $2,000, up from $1,400. Unlike regular beano where participants traditionally play for money, winners in basket beano win baskets full of prizes. The bill would also allow for a tiebreaker when necessary, a provision not currently in the law governing beano games.

Shannon Smith of Wilton, a community fundraiser and member of several local civic organizations, said basket beano had been an extremely popular nonprofit fundraiser in the community, until about a year ago.

“Many charities were doing this, but no one has done any since last February when I had a visit from the beano commissioner, I guess I’ll call him,” she said to members of the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee. She was referring to a visit from Maine State Police. “We were over our prize limits, so we had to play for empty baskets,” she said.

Smith said in Franklin County they used to hold about five basket beano events a year, raising between $4,000 and $5,000 each time.

“We support many, many charities in the community,” she said. “Some take money to Good Shepherd, a food pantry, where $1 buys $12 worth of food. In the past they have gotten more than $100,000 worth of food. With the way the economy is, that’s a lot of money not to go into the food pantries of our communities.”

By raising the basket beano limits, Smith said they could continue to play and raise money while remaining within the law.

But several members of the American Legion spoke in opposition to the bill.

“For many years the limit has been $1,400, which takes between 75-100 players to break even,” said Donald Simoneau of Fayette, former state commander of the American Legion. “I have a small hall. My fear is, if this passes, it will take a big hall to play in and make a profit or you are going to be cramming a lot of people in a lot of small halls. Wherever the big games are, that’s where people will go. That’s why baskets have done so well.”

Simoneau predicted two out of every three local beano halls would close if the law passed.

“You’re going to see the little halls in your local communities fizzle, you’re going to see us wither on the vine,” he said.

Simoneau said he regretted having to testify against people he had fundraised alongside.

“We’ve all done stuff together to help veterans and I hope they understand, and I hope we can continue to be friends after my testimony,” he said.

A work session for the bill has been scheduled for March 30.

Copy the Story Link