Pull tabs are legal in Maine, though the state does not use the word "pull tab" in its laws. Here they are called "sealed tickets," a paper game where you buy a ticket, peel back the tabs, and see if the symbols match a winning combination. Maine treats sealed tickets as a charitable game of chance, so only qualified nonprofit and community organizations may offer them, and each one must register or hold a license with the state. The rules live in Maine Revised Statutes Title 17, Chapter 62, and are enforced by the Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety.
Who can run pull tabs in Maine
Sealed ticket games are reserved for eligible charitable and community groups, not for private businesses running them for profit. Under Maine law, licenses and registrations may go to agricultural societies, volunteer fire departments, and bona fide nonprofit charitable, educational, political, civic, recreational, fraternal, patriotic, or religious organizations, as well as their auxiliaries. This is why you tend to see pull tabs at veterans posts and fraternal clubs rather than at a corner store.
To qualify, an organization generally must have been founded, chartered, or organized in Maine for at least two consecutive years before it applies. The proceeds are meant to support the organization's charitable or civic purposes, and the games are conducted by the group's own authorized members. Players must be at least 18 years old, consistent with the state's general rule for games of chance.
How sealed tickets work and where you find them
A sealed ticket, or pull tab, is a small cardboard ticket with hidden symbols concealed by an opaque, removable covering. You buy one, peel open the tabs, and hope the revealed symbols line up for a cash prize, similar in feel to a slot machine but on paper. Because they are quick, inexpensive, and easy to sell at a bar or hall, they are a common everyday fundraiser for the organizations licensed to offer them.
In Maine you are most likely to run into pull tabs at veterans and fraternal halls such as VFW and American Legion posts, Elks and Eagles lodges, volunteer fire department events, and similar nonprofit clubs. Organizations that sell sealed tickets must track their activity and file a monthly Sealed Ticket report with the Gambling Control Unit, which keeps the games accountable.
Rules, age limits, and recent changes
You must be 18 or older to take part in a game of chance in Maine, including sealed tickets, with only narrow exceptions for certain festival-style events offering small nonmonetary prizes. Games of chance also carry a maximum bet, generally capped at 5 dollars, and organizations must follow the licensing, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements set by the Gambling Control Unit.
Maine's charitable gaming framework is built around traditional paper sealed tickets, and electronic or tablet-based pull tabs do not appear to be authorized for charitable gaming here. Lawmakers and veterans clubs have debated the state's gaming limits in recent years, so the specific dollar caps and rules can shift over time. Anyone planning to run pull tabs should confirm the current requirements directly with the Gambling Control Unit before starting.
Where can I play pull tabs in Maine?
Pull tabs in Maine are typically found at VFW and American Legion posts, Elks and Eagles lodges, volunteer fire department events, and other licensed nonprofit and fraternal clubs.
Find a spot192 places to play pull tabs in Maine