The Maine Senate has approved legislation that would ban sweepstakes casinos in the state, sending the bill to the House for further consideration.
LD 2007 aims to restrict online sweepstakes operations as Maine prepares to launch its fully regulated online casino market.
Yes, the Pine Tree State is about to become the eighth state in the country to have its own legal iGaming market, since Governor Janet Mills allowed LD 1164 to pass into law earlier this year.
It marks a decisive point in Maine’s efforts to modernize its gambling framework, giving the Wabanaki Nations tribal group the ability to partner with commercial operators to offer regulated online casino games. This approach mirrors Connecticut, where tribal nations operate online casinos under state compacts.
Operators of dual‑currency or social/sweepstakes-style games are technically separate from the regulated iGaming market, so the bill doesn’t outlaw them by default. That’s why LD 2007 was introduced – it would work to clear a path for only licensed operators with a detailed description of dual-currency gaming and fines of up to $100,000.
However, it’s by no means guaranteed to pass. We’ll continue to monitor progress, as Maine is a jurisdiction where almost all sweeps brands operate currently. Lawmakers have until April 15 to advance any proposals to the Governor’s desk.
Elsewhere, a similar anti-sweeps bill in Indiana was recently signed into law, marking the first successful anti-sweepstakes bill of 2026, but others have failed in Mississippi, Florida, and Virginia.
Author: Alex Windsor
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