Maine Officially Institutes Dual-Currency Sweepstakes Ban

• Maine has now made it illegal to operate a dual-currency sweepstakes game in the state
• Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed LD2007 into law, which prohibits dual currency and casino-style sweepstakes games
• Those operating prohibited games can face a fine of $10,000 to $100,000

Maine is the latest state to take a stand against dual-currency sweepstakes games.

Gov. Janet Mills (D) this week signed Sen. Craig Hickman’s (D-14) bill, LD2007, into law, effectively banning online sweepstakes games that utilize dual-currency systems or simulate casino gaming in the Pine Tree State.

Maine joins California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, and Washington to ban dual-currency sweepstakes games.

Determined to be “Unlawful Gaming”

Gov. Mills signed the bill earlier this week, effectively prohibiting sweepstakes games in the state that use a system of paying for coins or tokens for game play, which can be exchanged for cash prizes.

Bills signed into law go into effect 90 days after Maine’s legislative session comes to an end. The state’s session will end on April 15, so the new law will go into effect in mid-July.

Hickman’s legislation clarifies that operating or promoting an online sweepstakes game in the Pine Tree State is tantamount to “unlawful gambling” within the Maine Criminal Code.

“The bill impacts online games or contests that use a dual-currency system of payment and that simulate casino-style gaming, including, but not limited to, slot machines, poker and other table games, lottery games, bingo or sports wagering,” the bill’s summary notes.

Any licensed Maine gaming operator found to be operating or promoting an online sweepstakes game, under the legislation, will have their license revoked by the Maine Gambling Control Board.

The legislation also sets a fine of no less than $10,000 and no more than $100,000 for any person or entity found operating an unlawful sweepstakes game.

Second State in 2026 to Ban Sweepstakes

Maine is the second state this year to ban dual currency sweepstakes games. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) signed HB 1052 into law this past March, prohibiting any operator or individual from knowingly offering a “sweepstakes game” in the Hoosier State.

Rep. Ethan Manning’s (R-23) bill defines a sweepstakes game as being accessible online and utilizing a “dual-currency or multi-currency system of payment allowing a player to exchange currency for: a cash prize, a cash award, or cash equivalents; or a chance to win a case prize, a cash award, or cash equivalents; and simulates lottery games or casino-style gaming, including slot machines, video poker, table games, bingo, or sports wagering.”

The state may levy a civil penalty in the amount of $100,000 against an operator or individual who offers a sweepstakes game in Indiana.

The new law goes into effect on July 1, 2026.