Maine bans sweepstakes casinos and credit card gambling
Maine Gov. Janet Mills has signed multiple gambling-related bills into law ahead of the 15 April 2026 legislative deadline, introducing stricter controls across the state’s gaming sector. The regulations restrict the buying of lottery tickets in bulk, forbid the use of credit cards for gambling, and outlaw sweepstakes casinos. Lawmakers approved the bills earlier in April, signalling strong support for increased oversight.
One of the key laws reclassifies sweepstakes-style platforms as unlawful gambling, bringing them under existing enforcement frameworks. The legislation broadly defines such platforms, including games that simulate casino-style activities and use dual-currency systems that can be redeemed for cash or prizes.
Sweepstakes casinos ban
Maine lawmakers moved quickly in the final days of the legislative session to address sweepstakes casinos. These sites are now categorised as illicit gambling under LD 2007, closing a loophole that had permitted them to operate in a grey area.
Concerns over unlicensed activity and consumer danger were raised by state officials’ assessment that there were roughly 60 operators operating in Maine. With fines of up to $100,000 and possible licence bans, the new rule gives authorities the power to take action.
Credit cards ban for online gambling
Maine lawmakers have approved LD 2080, a measure banning the use of credit cards for online gambling. The move comes amid concerns that credit-based betting can fuel debt and addiction by allowing players to wager money they don’t yet have.
The bill was first intended to regulate online sports betting, but it was eventually broadened to include online casino gaming, establishing a standard for all digital platforms. With this modification, Maine joins Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont, and Illinois as the eighth state to forbid the use of credit cards for internet gambling.
Bulk lottery ticket purchases ban
Maine has made a statement opposing the hoarding of lottery tickets. A new law known as LD 2095 was passed by lawmakers, setting a strict maximum of $25,000 on the number of lottery tickets that an individual or group may acquire. The regulation extends beyond a single store visit, encompassing numerous transactions in various places and even targeting coordinated buying schemes in which groups collaborate to collect tickets in large quantities.
Concerns that large-scale purchases compromise the lottery system’s impartiality prompted the action. Lotteries are meant for regular players, according to officials, and high-volume players’ bulk purchases run the danger of undermining public confidence.
Maine’s iGaming legalisation
Earlier this year, Maine expanded online gambling by granting the Wabanaki Nations authority to operate iGaming platforms. The move adds a new dimension to the state’s gambling landscape, combining tighter restrictions in some areas with new opportunities for tribal communities. Supporters say the change could provide economic benefits through revenue, jobs, and community programmes.
The law has also drawn pushback. Major casino operators have challenged the model in court, arguing that giving exclusive rights to tribal operators reshapes competition in ways that disadvantage other businesses.
What’s next for Maine
Maine’s gambling industry is set for further changes as new laws take effect and legal challenges move forward. The state has tightened rules on sweepstakes casinos, credit card use for online gambling, and bulk lottery purchases, while also expanding online gaming through tribal control.
Court disputes over the exclusivity granted to the Wabanaki Nations are still pending, and the outcome could reshape how the industry develops. At the same time, other states are watching closely, raising questions about whether Maine’s mix of restrictions and expansion will influence future policy elsewhere.
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