While Maine’s Second Regular Legislative Session is set to commence on January 7, 2026, a Senate bill aimed at prohibiting online sweepstakes games has already progressed to committee evaluation following its filing on December 5.
This proposal, dubbed An Act Regarding the Prohibition of Online Sweepstakes Games, was announced in the Maine Senate on December 5, 2025. Sponsored by Sen. Craig Hickman, D-Kennebec, the bill originated from the Department of Public Safety and is designated as Legislative Document No. 2007 (SP 825). It has been forwarded to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs.
This filing follows regulatory actions taken earlier this year. In June, the Maine Gambling Control Unit, which operates under the auspices of the Department of Public Safety, issued a public advisory concerning illegal online casino operations.
“There is currently no authorization for online casinos, iGaming, or sweepstakes sites to operate in Maine,” stated Milton Champion, executive director of the Gambling Control Unit, in a release dated June 9.
The advisory coincided with legislative discussions surrounding LD 1164 (HP 769), which was resurrected in June and aims to legalize online casinos in the state.
As it stands, Maine permits sports betting, fantasy contests, and certain horse racing wagers, while online casino-style games remain outlawed.
Debate over the legalization of internet gaming through the Wabanaki Nations may resurface when lawmakers gather for the Second Regular Session in January 2026.
S.P. 825 provides definitions associated with sweepstakes gaming, incorporating terms such as “dual-currency system of payment” and “online sweepstakes game.”
The bill articulates that “a person who operates or promotes an online sweepstakes game, or supports its operation or promotion, commits a civil infraction.”
Furthermore, it stipulates, “a person commits unlawful gambling if they operate or promote an online sweepstakes game or assist in its operation or promotion.”
Possible penalties outlined in the proposal range from fines of $10,000 to $100,000, alongside the potential revocation of current gambling licenses, and a ban on acquiring future licenses.
The definition of unlawful gambling extends to simulated casino games such as slots, table games, poker, lottery games, and bingo. Sports betting conducted via dual-currency platforms would also be encompassed within this prohibition.
To enforce penalties, the proposed legislation aims to create a Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund.
This Maine proposal follows legislative measures adopted in various states in 2025, including California, Connecticut, Montana, New Jersey, and Nevada, which each enforced bans on sweepstakes casinos.
This bill was introduced on the same day that New York Governor Kathy Hochul enacted a similar ban on sweepstakes casinos on December 5.
The language within the Maine bill closely mirrors provisions from draft legislation that has been discussed in Indiana. States with established sweepstakes bans like New York, Massachusetts, and Maine have also reviewed laws concerning real-money online casino licensing.