Maine Governor Janet Mills Expected to Sign Sweeps Ban Into Law
Janet Mills (Photo Credit: US Dept. of Defense)
Maine’s ban on the dual-currency sweepstakes model imposes steep fines and criminal penalties on platforms that mimic online casinos.
Maine has said a resounding ‘no’ to allowing sweepstakes operators in the state.
Less than three weeks after it advanced out of the Senate, Maine’s legislature passed LD 2007 with an 87-55 vote. Introduced by Sen. Craig Hickman, the bill banning online sweepstakes casinos is now with Governor Janet Mills, awaiting signature.
Previously, sweepstakes platforms exploited legal loopholes to offer casino-style gambling despite lacking Maine licensing or consumer protections.
In passing the law, Maine joins several states, including Montana, New York, and, most recently, Indiana, that have banned sweeps. Several other states, including Illinois, Mississippi, and Tennessee, are either considering or have introduced similar legislation to regulate the ‘social plus’ casino industry.
Ban Imposes Steep Fines, Criminal Penalties
Sweeps bans have typically more likely in jurisdictions with regulated iGaming markets or in states that have been considering legalization, such as New Jersey or New York.
In Maine, the sweeps crackdown followed the state’s legalization of tribal-run online casino gambling earlier this year. Previously, Gov. Mills had exercised a “pocket veto” by allowing the legislative session to expire. Come January, many expected Mills to let the clock run out on the bill. Instead, she surprised industry observers by signing the bill into law, having been convinced of its economic importance to the Wabanaki Nations.
The new law clearly defines sweepstakes casinos, removing the ambiguity sweeps advocates use as legal cover. The legislation specifically targets platforms offering casino-style slots, poker, and sports betting under a dual-currency system of virtual coins and promotional credits.
The law also permits criminal prosecution of sweepstakes operators and imposes civil fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Anyone who violates the ban also becomes ineligible for a state gaming employee license.
The expectation is that Gov. Mills will officially sign the ban into law in the coming weeks.
Kikr Officially Shutters
Not long ago, the sweeps industry seemed unstoppable. The lack of legal real-money online casinos and legislative loopholes permitted sweepstakes operators to flood the US market in social casino states.
These days, however, sweepstakes companies are facing ever-increasing headwinds as legal battles and oversaturation challenge operators’ survival. Smaller operators, in particular, haven’t been able to carve out their share of the market.
As Gaming America has previously reported, gaming writer James Guill has noticed companies clawing back bonuses and capping jackpots. He’s also noted trouble redeeming tokens. In unregulated gambling spaces, these hiccups can indicate solvency issues and often predict coming closure.
Now, several smaller operators have folded over the last six or so months, including LuckyStars Casino, Turbo Stakes Casino, and Betty Sweeps.
The latest to do so, Kikr, formally ceases operations today.
In an email sent to players a month ago, Kickr announced it was ceasing operations due to “market conditions.”
“We’re reaching out to share an important update: Kickr will be closing down at the end of March 2026. We’ve made the difficult decision to close down Kickr due to shifting market conditions and our parent company’s strategic decision to focus on new verticals and brands.”
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