Maine Gov. Mills Signs Sweepstakes Ban Into Law

Maine became the second state this year to ban online sweepstakes casinos after Gov. Janet Mills signed Legislative Document 2007 into law Monday.

Maine joins Indiana after multiple states outlawed sweeps in 2025, most notably New York, New Jersey, and California. There is, however, legislation in the Garden State that would reverse the ban in favor of regulating the industry. That bill has yet to move beyond committee in the Senate.

Maine’s LD 2007 allows regulators to issues fines between $10,000 and $100,000 to persons who either operate or promote online sweepstakes casinos. It also requires the Maine Gambling Control Unit or Gaming Control Board to revoke the gaming license of any current operator if they are found to be operating or promoting sweeps.

“We are disappointed that Maine LD 2007 will become law. Unfortunately, this bill will do nothing to generate revenue for the state nor protect Mainers from exploitative illegal online gambling,” said Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) Managing Director Sean Ostrow in a statement released Wednesday. “Instead, LD 2007 will ban free and low-cost social games that have been operating responsibly for over a decade, leaving the thousands of Maine adults who enjoy them without a safe, trusted outlet for this mainstream entertainment.

“Even as many other states are looking to regulate and tax this growth industry, Maine’s gaming policy continues to pick winners and losers while stifling innovation.”

Mills also signed legislation into law that bans both the use of credit cards for online gaming and bulk purchases for the state lottery by any person, entity or group of more than $25,000.

Another bill taking aim at dual currency

LD 2007 clarifies that illegal online gaming includes “games or contests that use a dual-currency system of payment and that simulate casino-style gaming, including, but not limited to, slot machines, poker and other table games, lottery games, bingo or sports wagering.”

It defines a dual-currency system of payment as “the practice of using more than one system of coins or tokens to facilitate game play.” The new law comes as Maine is gearing up to launch internet casino gaming early in 2027.

Mills allowed LD 1164 to become law in January without her signature, making Maine the eighth state to legalize online casino gaming. The law gives tribes exclusive rights to offer iGaming in the Pine Tree State, but it is currently facing a legal challenge in U.S. District Court from Oxford Casino, which is owned by Churchill Downs.