Maine Bans Sweepstakes Poker and Casinos, Implements New Gambling Rules

Maine has implemented several new gambling regulations, including a ban on sweepstakes poker and casinos. Governor Janet Mills signed LD 2007, which explicitly bans all sweepstakes operators from the state. This new law will allow state authorities to take stronger action against any operators that don’t comply, including issuing fines of up to $100,000, and making operators ineligible for future licensing through the Maine Gambling Control Board (MGCB).

In addition to the ban on sweepstakes, Gov. Mills also signed LD 2080, which prohibits the use of credit cards in all forms of online gambling. This measure aims to protect consumers from falling into dangerous habits and into debt. The bill was amended to include all forms of online gambling, not just sports betting. Maine is now among several states that have introduced similar guardrails.

Another significant regulation is LD 2095, which addresses bulk purchases of lottery tickets. This bill bans any person or group from purchasing more than $25,000 worth of lottery tickets in single or multiple locations, via single or multiple transactions. The bill aims to address an active crisis by limiting the number of tickets individuals or groups can purchase in bulk, thus limiting any single player’s ability to exploit the lottery rules or create an advantage over other players.