A Lakes Region tradition and fundraising staple may be threatened by laws that govern games of chance in Maine.

Snowmobile clubs have long held poker runs to raise money to support themselves. But clubs in the Lakes Region recently learned that such events must be licensed, and have postponed or cancelled events this season.

Poker runs, made by snowmobile and motorcycle clubs, take riders from point-to-point, collecting cards. At the end of the run, the best hand wins and money is raised for trail maintenance and causes like scholarship funds.

For decades, games of chance laws have been in place in order to regulate beano, bingo, and other gambling games in Maine. These laws, however, were lost on many snowmobile clubs until this year. Clubs are now learning that they must apply and pay fees to have a poker run.

Bob Meyers, president of the Maine Snowmobile Association, said he published an article in the organization’s newsletter following a cribbage bust in Gardiner last fall, to let clubs know that they need a license to hold poker runs.

“I think it’s a shame that things have come to this. These clubs raise money on their own to support themselves,” said Meyers.

According to Sgt. William Gomane, head of the gaming division for the Maine State Police, games of chance laws have been in place since the 50s, and were updated in 2004. Gomane said he did not know why snowmobile clubs, and other organizations that operate low stakes games of chance, did not know about the laws.

“Enforcement has not changed,” said Gomane, who said that two public safety enforcers make their rounds in the state of Maine, looking for violations of the games of chance laws. Gomane said the public safety enforcers are there to inform businesses and organizations, and that no one has been summonsed for a violation.

Gomane added that the application and license fees are not as high as some snowmobile clubs originally believed. He said that there is a one-time application fee of $7.50, and a $15 fee for each event.

Organizations have the option of getting a license for the year for $700, but he that it does not make sense for snowmobile clubs to go that route, when they hold only a few events per year.

The law also specifies that an organization cannot allow gambling of more than $1 on any one chance, which is a problem when it comes to poker runs, which usually costs riders $5 to $10 a hand.

Bob Fletcher, president of the Windham Drifters snowmobile club, said they cancelled a poker run event scheduled for this weekend, because they learned about the law too late.

Fletcher said the club may bring in $100 at an event, which contributes to a scholarship fund in the club’s name, or trail maintenance.

“None of us had any knowledge (of the law) whatsoever…we now realize the law has been there, but they haven’t pushed down on us,” said Fletcher, who said he first learned of the laws from a newspaper article.

The Windham Drifters decided not to hold the upcoming poker run, since applications must be submitted eight days prior to the event. But they do plan to hold another event in March.

“We shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it. Why should we?” said Fletcher.

As long as the licensing process is not too expensive, Fletcher said it is worth it in order to keep the poker run going. But the Standish Sno Seekers, along with Representative Gary Moore (R-Standish), are concerned that gambling limits could bring the license cost of $15 much higher.

Since the law limits gambling to $1 per chance, Jim Durgin, president of the Sno Seekers, said the cost of getting a license increases to hundreds of dollars when the cost of a typical game is considered. Durgin also said the paperwork involved with the application is cumbersome.

On Wednesday, Gomane said that he heard in the Legislature that some changes may be made to the current laws. But as it stands, it is illegal for clubs to charge more than $1 per hand.

Moore believes that charging snowmobile clubs for running games of chance are “desperate actions of a state that has run out of money.”

Moore said he is advocating for the Standish Sno Seekers by asking the state police to make an exception, allowing the club to hold at least one or two poker run events a year without having to pay licensing fees.

Durgin pointed out that snowmobile clubs take on the majority of trail maintenance themselves, and many provide scholarships to local students. In addition to the club’s livelihood, fundraising events benefit the entire community.

“People are really ticked off about this, and I don’t blame them,” said Moore.

Representative Rich Cebra (R-Naples) said he believes the state is enforcing games of chance laws more strictly, but not for financial gains. He said the state gave the organizers of Casco Days a hard time about running games of chance for kids last summer, which he feels reflects an effort by the state to regulate the growing number of games of chance in Maine.

“It certainly has grown into a cottage industry,” said Cebra.

In the coming weeks, members of the Muddy River Snowmobile club in Naples will have to decide if they will hold a poker run at the annual winter carnival. Barbara Clark, a club member and the executive director of the Sebago Lake Region Chamber of Commerce said that losing the poker run would have significant impact on the carnival.

“To come up with creative fundraising events is becoming more difficult for nonprofits,” said Clark.