Maine has become the latest state to ban sweepstakes casinos. Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 2007 into law April 6, shutting down sweepstakes platforms built around dual-currency systems.
Key Takeaways
- Maine now classifies dual-currency sweepstakes casinos as unlawful gambling under state law.
- Operators face fines between $10,000 and $100,000 per violation, with funds directed to addiction programs.
- The law revokes gambling licenses tied to prohibited sweepstakes activity and targets unregulated operators.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Craig Hickman to the Senate Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee in December, draws a hard line between licensed Maine online casinos and the gray-market model used by sweepstakes casinos. It strengthens enforcement in the Maine Criminal Code, with steep fines and licensure consequences included in the update.
The bill targets platforms that mimic slots, poker, table games, or sports betting and use a dual-currency payment system, allowing a person to buy virtual coins and exchange them for cash awards and other real-world prizes.
Each violation of the new law carries mandatory fines from $10,000 to $100,000. Money collected from these penalties will flow into the state’s Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund, which the state has been building alongside broader gaming expansion.
There is also a licensing trigger. Anyone holding a gambling license in Maine risks immediate revocation if tied to these platforms. That is significant because the state has already legalized online sports betting and is expected to expand into tribal iGaming.
The measure made quick work of Maine’s legislature, passing the Senate on March 12 and then being advanced from the House to the Governor’s desk March 26 with a vote of 87-55. Maine now joins a growing list of states that have recently outlawed sweepstakes casinos.
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Indiana adds to growing crackdown
Indiana closed the same door weeks before Maine did. Gov. Mike Braun signed HB 1052 after the bill cleared both chambers with wide margins. The focus again landed on dual-currency or multi-currency systems.
Lawmakers there gave the Indiana Gaming Commission authority to issue cease-and-desist orders. That shifts enforcement from theory to action. Operators can be told to stop, then face consequences if they don't.
The bill moved on a tight timeline. It reached the governor March 5, starting a seven-day window for signature or veto. It would have become law anyway after that period, which signaled how little resistance remained.
Indiana followed a broader pattern. Six states passed anti-sweepstakes measures in 2025, including major markets such as New York, New Jersey, and California. New Jersey may revisit its stance with a proposal to regulate rather than ban.
However, the bill has faced pushback from industry groups. The Social Gaming Leadership Alliance (SGLA) argued regulated sweepstakes could generate $20 million annually for Indiana.
The SGLA's efforts did help reopen a different conversation. With sweepstakes platforms pushed out, pressure is building to legalize full online casino gaming in the state. Indiana lawmakers are expected to revisit the issue in the next session.
