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If you were planning on spending your weekend chasing jackpots on a sweepstakes casino from your couch in Portland, Maine, Governor Janet Mills just officially crashed the party.
On April 6, she signed LD 2007 into law, making Maine the second state this year to ban sweepstakes casinos. Indiana was the first.
The state isn’t just wagging its finger; it is rewriting the Maine Criminal Code to classify these platforms as “unlawful gambling.” If a site uses two different virtual currencies and acts like a casino, Maine now treats it like an outlaw.
Cracking the “Dual-Currency” Code
As far as the new law is concerned, if a platform checks these three boxes, it is officially banned in Maine:
- It is an online game accessible via “mobile telephone” or computer terminal.
- It uses a system where you buy one coin to get “bonus” coins.
- It simulates traditional casino favorites like slots, poker, bingo, or sports betting.
Pay Up or Pack Up
Maine is not playing around when it comes to enforcement. Operators who try to sneak under the radar are looking at civil penalties that will make their eyes water.
Violators can be fined from $10,000 to $100,000.
If an operator already has a gambling license in Maine for something else, it gets yanked immediately if they are caught messing with sweepstakes games.
“If a licensee is convicted of unlawful gambling… or otherwise found to be in violation… through the administrative process applicable to the license held by the licensee, the unit or board, whichever is responsible for administering the license, shall revoke the licensee’s license,” the bill reads. “A person that is found to be in violation… is ineligible to receive a license.”
All that fine money isn’t just going into a black hole; it is being funneled directly into the state’s Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund.
Joining the Banning Bandwagon
Maine is joining a club that is getting bigger by the minute.
Earlier this year, Indiana passed a very similar law targeting the same dual currency setup. Before that, states that have already put up a fight with sweepstakes casinos last year include
- California
- New York
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- Montana
Put it all together, and it starts to look less like a one-off decision and more like a growing national mood.
Still, industry groups like the Social Gaming Leadership Alliance argue that these sites could bring in millions in revenue. But Maine says it is prioritizing consumer protection.
The state also just banned the use of credit cards for sports betting and potential online casino gaming to help keep residents from digging themselves into a debt hole.
Timeline for Players
The ban isn’t an “emergency” measure, which gives everyone a little bit of breathing room. It is expected to officially go into effect in mid-July 2026, roughly 90 days after the legislative session wraps up.
By then, the only “legal” way to play online in Maine will be through the upcoming regulated tribal iGaming platforms.
If you’re a Maine local, it might be time to start looking for those official tribal apps before your favorite sweepstakes site hits you with a “not available in your region” pop-up.
