Maine joins a growing list of states that have sought to regulate the industry, with similar bills pending in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Maryland.
Maine joins a growing list of states that have sought to regulate the industry, with similar bills pending in the legislatures of Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Maryland. Photo By - Reuters Connect. A general view of Maine State House in Augusta, Maine.
REUTERS/Lauren Owens Lambert Maine legislators have passed a bill that prohibits online sweepstakes casinos and websites that mimic casino gambling through promotional methods.Maine has passed Senate Bill 2007 to classify online sweepstakes casinos as unlawful gambling. The measure passed the House on March 26 with a vote of 87-55. gambling. The measure targets websites that offer casino games, such as slots, poker, and sports betting, using two forms of currency. One is virtual coins players buy, and the other is promotion credits they can redeem for prizes. Lawmakers said the bill removes ambiguity that operators have used to argue compliance with gambling laws. The legislation creates a specialized statutory scheme, which makes the operation and promotion of such sites illegal. Penalties for violation are severe. Civil fines can range from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation, with fines being used to fund Maine's Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund. The bill also amends criminal laws to allow companies and individuals involved in sweepstakes to be prosecuted. The law includes strict consequences for licensed gambling entities. Any operator found supporting sweepstakes platforms faces mandatory license revocation and potential exclusion from future approvals. The bill, introduced to the Senate Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee in December, passed the Senate on March 12 before moving to the House, where it passed 87-55 on Thursday. Maine joins a growing list of states that have sought to regulate the industry, with similar bills pending in the legislatures of Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Maryland. Earlier this month, Indiana Gov. Mike BraunThe crackdown comes as Maine continues to develop a regulated online gaming framework led by tribal operators. The Wabanaki Nations now hold exclusive rights to internet gaming under recent legislation supported by Gov. Mills that was signed in January. She allowed the bill to become law despite earlier concerns, following consultations with tribal leaders. Chiefs from the Mi'kmaq Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Penobscot Nation, and the Passamaquoddy Tribes highlighted the economic benefits of regulated iGaming. as a step toward economic self-governance. Mi'kmaq Chief Sheila McCormack said it would deliver sustainable revenue for essential services. Houlton Band Chief Clarissa Sabattis pointed to stronger consumer protections compared to unregulated markets. The framework builds on earlier reforms, including the 2022 expansion allowing tribal control of sports betting. It also reflects the long-standing legal intricacies of the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, which assigns tribal authority a diminished role compared to federal standards. Gov. Mills has continued the incremental approach to tribal sovereignty, supporting targeted reforms while opposing broader legislative changes. The issue remains salient in advance of Maine's upcoming gubernatorial election, in which several candidates have pledged support for tribal authority. has been deep in the iGaming trenches for over 20 years, long before most people could spell"geolocation compliance." With a background in marketing and business development at some of the biggest names in gambling tech, Ziv knows the industry from the inside out. Since joining Covers, he's turned his sharp eye toward everything happening in the fast-moving world of online gambling. Whether it's new state launches, the latest twists in regulation, or what the big operators and game providers are cooking up next, Ziv breaks it all down with clarity, context, and just the right amount of snark. He covers the business side of betting, from affiliate trends and revenue reports to the tech powering your favorite slots. His motto in writing is “let’s make it make sense without putting you to sleep.” When he’s not tracking gambling legislation or looking for the next breaking story, Ziv is living and dying with every pitch and play from his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. As a Pitt graduate, it’s a city loyalty forged in heartbreak, but one he wouldn’t trade for anything, except maybe a few more playoff wins. When away from the keyboard, Ziv loves to hit the road and soak up the energy of casinos. Whether strolling the neon jungle called the Vegas Strip, or wandering into a smoky riverboat casino in the Midwest, Ziv’s in his element. He’s the guy chatting with players, blackjack dealers, and asking pit bosses way too many questions, all in the name of “research,” of course. The casino floor isn’t just his workplace, it’s a weird and wonderful ecosystem of flashing lights, wild characters, and pure sensory overload, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.Copyright © 1995 - 2026 CS Media Limited All Rights Reserved. If you choose to make use of any information on this website including online sports betting services from any websites that may be featured on this website, we strongly recommend that you carefully check your local laws before doing so.It is your sole responsibility to understand your local laws and observe them strictly.Covers does not provide any advice or guidance as to the legality of online sports betting or other online gambling activities within your jurisdiction and you are responsible for complying with laws that are applicable to you in your relevant locality.Covers disclaims all liability associated with your use of this website and use of any information contained on it.As a condition of using this website, you agree to hold the owner of this website harmless from any claims arising from your use of any services on any third party website that may be featured by Covers.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
TCU Dominates Virginia, Advances to Elite EightTCU, seeded third, outplays No. 10 Virginia with a strong second-half performance, securing a spot in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Marta Suarez and Olivia Miles led TCU's scoring efforts while Virginia struggled to match TCU's physicality and inside game.
Read more »
Arizona advances to men's Final Four for first time since 2001Fox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
NCAA Tournament: UCLA storms back against Duke, advances to Final FourLauren Betts scores 23 points and the Bruins outscore the Blue Devils 39-19 in the second half for a 70-58 victory in the Elite Eight.
Read more »
‘Hero of Harlem' Wesley Autrey Wins PCH Sweepstakes 15 Years After Subway SavePublishers Clearing House Prize patrol surprises random winners with big checks -- and the hero of Harlem, Wesley Autrey, who saved Cameron Hollopeter in 2007,…
Read more »
Bret Michaels to Headline Hollywood Casino Columbus Grand Opening; Other Local NewsGlam rock icon Bret Michaels will perform at the grand opening of the Hollywood Casino Columbus on June 12th. This event marks the beginning of the hotel's festival. Additional local news includes the cancellation of an endangered child alert, a jury's decision in a shooting case, the return of fallen airmen, and the return of gift cards given to TSA employees.
Read more »
Rock legend headlines festival opening casino hotel June 12Eighties glam rock performer and touring icon Bret Michaels will perform a concert at the grand opening of the Hollywood Casino Columbus hotel June 12, as part
Read more »