Maine lawmakers have been busy this session, passing a variety of legislation including a bill to ban credit card funding for sports betting accounts and a sweepstakes casino ban.
On Monday, Gov. Janet Mills signed Legislative Document 2007, which bans sweepstakes casinos in the state. It is the second state, joining Indiana to ban the unregulated gambling sites this year.
On Friday, Mills signed Legislative Document 2080, which updates the state’s existing Maine sports betting laws to ban the use of credit cards to fund sportsbook and online casino accounts. The move comes after Mills earlier this year made Maine the eighth state to legalize online casinos.
Sweepstakes casino ban heads to Mills
Sen. Craig Hickman introduced SB 2007 in December, following a wave of states that banned sweepstakes casinos last year. State regulators also sent hundreds of cease-and-desist letters to the operators last year.
Hickman’s bill creates a civil penalty of $100,000 and allows for criminal charges against sweepstakes operators.
During legislative hearings, Maine Gambling Control Unit Executive Director Milton Champion estimated there are approximately 60 sweepstakes operators in the state.
Responsible gambling aim in Maine
Rep. Marc Malon sponsored LD 2080, aiming to help curb problem gambling related to online betting. The state’s two online sportsbooks, DraftKings and Caesars, launched in November 2023.
“Since coming online, sports betting has become a pervasive part of American culture,” said Malon. “Although it has been economically successful, we want to make sure that we establish reasonable safeguards so that Mainers can participate without falling prey to addiction.”
DraftKings already does not allow users to use credit cards for account funding. There are seven other states with similar bans.
Maine online casino update
Mills signed the online casino legislation in January. The same month, Champion told lawmakers the state could have online casinos up and running by early 2027.
Churchill Downs later sued Champion over the tribal online casino plan. The casino company, which operates Oxford Casino in the state, claims the legislature “blessed a race-based monopoly” for the state’ four tribes, which also have online sports betting exclusivity.
The Wabanaki tribes filed a joint motion to intervene in the case last week. They argue the law helps further economic development for the tribes.
