The Sweepstakes Casino Crackdown Is Getting Real: Maine Is Now the Second State to Ban Them in 2026

Maine Gov. Janet Mills signed Legislative Document 2007 into law on April 6, making Maine the second state in 2026 to formally ban dual-currency sweepstakes casino platforms. The law, titled “An Act Regarding the Prohibition of Online Sweepstakes Games,” takes effect in mid-July — 90 days after the legislature’s session ends on April 15 — and carries civil fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation for operators found running prohibited platforms in the state.

Indiana moved first. Gov. Mike Braun signed House Bill 1052 into law on March 12, establishing the same effective date of July 1, 2026 and the same $100,000 civil penalty cap. The two states took similar approaches to similar problems, and together they represent the leading edge of what is shaping up to be a significant legislative wave against social casino platforms that use the dual-currency model.

What the Dual-Currency Model Is and Why States Are Targeting It

Sweepstakes casinos operate through a legal workaround that distinguishes them from licensed gambling under state law. Players receive two types of virtual currency: Gold Coins, which can only be used for social play and carry no cash value, and Sweeps Coins, which can be redeemed for real cash prizes. The Gold Coins are the mechanism that allows sweepstakes platforms to avoid classification as gambling — technically, players are not paying for the Sweeps Coins directly. Instead, they buy Gold Coins (which have no cash value) and receive Sweeps Coins as a bonus.

Maine’s law targets this structure precisely. The legislation defines an “online sweepstakes game” as any internet-based game that uses a dual-currency system and simulates casino-style gaming — slots, poker, bingo, lottery games, or sports wagering. Under the statute, operating or promoting such a game constitutes unlawful gambling under the Maine Criminal Code. Licensed Maine gambling operators found to be involved lose their licenses and become ineligible for future licensure. Non-licensed violators face the civil fine range of $10,000 to $100,000. All fines collected are directed to Maine’s Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund.

Which Platforms Are Affected

Maine’s new law does not name specific operators, but the platforms directly in scope are those that have been operating the dual-currency sweepstakes model in the state. VGW, the gaming company behind Chumba Casino, LuckyLand Slots, Global Poker, LuckyLand Casino, and United Slots, is among the most prominent operators in the category. Other large sweepstakes platforms in the US market include Fortune Coins, McLuck, Stake.us, Zula Casino, and Pulsz, among others.

Several of these platforms have already been targeted by regulators in other states. Connecticut banned sweepstakes casinos in June 2025. New Jersey amended its laws to prohibit dual-currency platforms in August 2025. Maryland’s gaming regulator issued cease-and-desist letters to VGW and several competitors in 2025. Michigan and Illinois sent similar enforcement letters to operators. Maine joins a growing list of states that have determined the existing legal workaround is insufficient justification for unregulated casino-style gaming to operate within their borders.

What’s Different About Maine’s Situation

Maine’s regulatory environment has an interesting wrinkle that most other sweepstakes ban states don’t share. Gov. Mills also signed LD 1164 earlier this year, a separate law authorizing Maine’s tribal governments — the four tribes of the Wabanaki Nations — to operate legal real-money online casinos. The launch date for that regulated iGaming market is still to be determined, as the Maine Gambling Control Unit must first establish industry rules and regulations.

In theory, the simultaneous arrival of a sweepstakes ban and a path to regulated online casino gaming creates a cleaner consumer landscape in Maine than in states that simply ban the platforms with nothing to replace them. Players who have been using sweepstakes casinos for casino-style entertainment will eventually have access to regulated, licensed online casino products — provided the tribal iGaming launch moves forward on schedule.

Which States Are Next

The legislative calendar is busy. Tennessee’s Senate passed SB 1589 by a 32-0 vote and the bill is heading to the House. Oklahoma’s SB 1589 advanced through the House Criminal Judiciary Committee unanimously. Minnesota introduced Senate File 4474 targeting dual-currency games. Florida has legislation tied to protecting the Seminole Tribe’s gaming monopoly that would effectively ban sweepstakes platforms. Virginia, Iowa, Mississippi, and Arkansas all have active legislation at various stages of the process.

The Indiana Gaming Commission chairman predicted at the start of the 2026 legislative session that nine states would consider sweepstakes bans this cycle. Two have now passed and become law. The argument that has driven adoption in both Indiana and Maine — that these platforms simulate gambling without the consumer protections, tax contributions, or regulatory oversight that licensed gambling requires — is likely to be compelling in additional state capitols before the year ends.

For players who use sweepstakes casino platforms, the immediate practical guidance is to check the status of legislation in your state. The legal landscape is shifting quickly, and the mid-July effective date in both Indiana and Maine gives platforms a narrow window to either exit those markets or restructure their products in a way that does not meet the statutory definition of an unlawful sweepstakes game. Whether any platform can successfully thread that needle under Maine’s broad definition remains to be seen.