Maine Signs Sweepstakes Casino Ban Into Law

Maine has banned sweepstakes casinos after Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 2007 into law on April 6. The law targets platforms that use dual-currency systems and present casino-style games or sports betting outside the licensed market.

Good to Know

• Fines range from $10,000 to $100,000 for each violation
• Penalty money goes to the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund
• Maine gambling license holders can face revocation if tied to banned platforms

Maine Bans Sweepstakes Casinos

LD 2007 targets platforms that mimic slots, poker, table games, or sports betting while using a dual-currency setup that lets players buy virtual coins and exchange value for cash prizes or other real-world rewards.

Sen. Craig Hickman introduced the bill to the Senate Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee in December. Lawmakers moved it through the legislature quickly. The Senate passed it on March 12, and the House sent it to Gov. Janet Mills on March 26 with an 87 to 55 vote.

The new law adds steep penalties to the Maine Criminal Code. Each violation carries a mandatory fine of $10,000 to $100,000. Collected funds will go into the state Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund.

The law also creates a licensing trigger. Any person or company holding a gambling license in Maine can lose that license if connected to one of the banned sweepstakes platforms.

That detail matters because Maine already has legal online sports betting and remains a state to watch on tribal iGaming. With LD 2007 now signed, Maine joins a growing list of states that have outlawed sweepstakes casinos.

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