Maine Bans Sweepstakes Casinos in Lightning Move
Maine Gov. Janet Mills has moved swiftly to cement a complete ban on sweepstakes casinos in the Pine Tree State.
Controversial sweepstakes casino sites are now banned in Maine, in line with bans in other U.S. states such as Montana and New Jersey.
So-called “dual-currency” models, used by sweepstakes casinos, will be outlawed under Maine’s existing gambling legislation. Up until now, sweepstakes have operated in a decidedly gray area.
At a Glance:
- Maine Gov. Janet Mills signs law banning online sweepstakes casinos
- Quick turnaround marks unified position among Maine lawmakers
- Violations carry fines between $10,000 and $100,000
- Ban includes credit cards for all online gambling transactions
- Fines to contribute toward gambling addiction programs
- Ban follows the lead of New York, which banned sweepstakes in December
Fines of up to $100,000 per offense
The Act Regarding the Prohibition of Online Sweepstakes Games sets out potential fines for sweepstakes casino operators that violate the law. Fines will start at $10,000 for any operator offering games to Maine residents. Charges can rise to $100,000 for persistent offenders.
Interestingly, Maine’s legislation appears to cover all types of games, including slots, bingo, and table games.
Currently, the biggest sweepstakes casinos offer a mix of games commonly found at real-money online casinos. The law seems designed to discourage operators from finding loopholes when new types of games are released in the future.
Maine joins IN, NJ, LA with sweepstakes clampdown
Maine joins a host of states hitting online sweepstakes providers, some with increasingly draconian language.
In March, Louisiana classified online sweepstakes as “racketeering”, punishable with fines of up to $1 million or even prison.
Indiana’s sweepstakes casino ban comes into force this July. Meanwhile, Minnesota is targeting sweepstakes casinos and unregulated gambling sites as part of a broader effort. Minnesota currently has one of the strongest anti-online-gambling positions in the U.S.
And in 2025, New Jersey banned sweepstakes casinos, making it the fourth state to do so during the year.
The Garden State was the first to legalize online casinos way back in 2013. However, Sen. Joseph P. Cryan has introduced legislation to regulate sweepstakes casinos. Under the proposals, dual-currency platforms would come under existing NJ DGE oversight.
Sweepstakes out, legalized online casinos in
It’s perhaps no coincidence that the ban on sweepstakes in Maine comes just months after the state legalized online casinos.
In January, the four Wabanaki tribes were granted exclusive rights to operate online casinos in Maine. The move contradicted Gov. Mills’ predecessor’s opposition to regulated online casino gambling in the state.
The bill, LD 1164, comes into effect on April 15. Maine has had regulated sports betting since 2022. However, under the new Maine law, credit cards are banned for use in online sports betting.
With the sweepstakes ban now in effect, Maine is tidying up business for a seamless transition to regulated online casinos.
