Cribbage players are confused.

Lawmakers are confused.

And Maine State Police say rules governing games of chance are anything but easy to explain.

Two weeks ago, a state inspector shut down cribbage games and tournaments at American Legion Post 4 in Gardiner.

The inspector told players their game was illegal because the Legion did not have a license to host games of chance.

Since an article about Post 4 appeared in the Kennebec Journal last week, Sgt. William Gomane of the State Police said he has been “fielding calls” from the public.

“These rules are not easy to understand and it’s hard to explain to people,” Gomane said. “Without knowing the circumstance, it’s difficult to say (if a game is legal or illegal). If it’s a community center and it’s social gambling, it’s legal. If you went to a place where you have sports betting in a for-profit bar, it’s illegal.”

THE LAW SAYS

So what is social gambling?

Title 17-A: Maine Criminal Code Chapter 39 Unlawful Gambling, says: “Social gambling is gambling, or a contest of chance, in which the only participants are players and from which no person or organization receives or becomes entitled to receive something of value or any profit whatsoever, directly or indirectly, other than as a player, from any source, fee, remuneration connected with said gambling, or such activity as arrangements or facilitation of the game, or permitting the use of premises, or selling or supplying for profit refreshments, food, drink service or entertainment of participants, players or spectators.”

Quite a mouthful.

Some people, including Post 4 American Legion Cmdr. Bob Mckay and Rep. Earle McCormick R-West Gardiner, believe the rules were part of a bill that passed in the last Legislative session that dealt with Texas hold ‘em card games.

The bill granted charities the right to run Texas hold ‘em tournaments six times a year.

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Author Contact Info: Mechele Cooper, Morning Sentinel