An Act Regarding the Prohibition of Online Sweepstakes Games
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2007
Sponsors: HICKMAN
Amends: 5 MRSA §20006-B, 17-A MRSA §954

Legislative Document
No. 2007
S.P. 825
In Senate, December 5, 2025
An Act Regarding the Prohibition of Online Sweepstakes Games
Submitted by the Department of Public Safety pursuant to Joint Rule 203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 3, 2025.  Referred to the Committee 
on Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §20006-B, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. AA, §24, 
is further amended to read:
1.  Fund established.  The Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund, 
referred to in this section as "the fund," is established for the purpose of supporting 
gambling addiction analysis, prevention and treatment to be administered by the 
department.  The fund is a dedicated, nonlapsing fund into which payments are received in 
accordance with Title 8, section 1036, subsection 2 and Title 8, section 1402, subsection 1.
Sec. 2.  8 MRSA c. 39 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 39
ONLINE SWEEPSTAKES GAMES PROHIBITED
§1401. Definitions 
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
1. Board. "Board" means the Gambling Control Board established under section 1002.
2. Direct consideration. "Direct consideration" means a coin, token or other 
representation of value that may be purchased by a person or received through a bonus or 
promotion and that is used for playing or participating in an online sweepstakes game.
3. Dual-currency system of payment. "Dual-currency system of payment" means a 
system of payment that allows a person to play or participate with direct consideration or 
indirect consideration or that is otherwise designed in a manner that:
A. Prevents a person from directly purchasing coins, tokens or other representations of 
value that are redeemable for any cash prize, cash award or cash equivalents or the 
chance to win any cash prize, cash award or cash equivalents; and 
B. Encourages a person to purchase services, products, coins, tokens or other 
representations of value that are not exchangeable for a prize, award, cash or cash 
equivalents or a chance to win a prize, award, cash or cash equivalents in order for that 
person to obtain the coins, tokens or other representations of value that are 
exchangeable for prizes, awards, cash or cash equivalents or a chance to win a prize, 
award, cash or cash equivalents.
The unit may adopt rules to further define what constitutes a dual-currency system of 
payment. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules as defined 
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
4. Indirect consideration. “Indirect consideration” means a coin, token or other 
representation of value that: 
A. Is provided for free through a promotion or bonus or with the purchase of a related 
product, service or activity; and 
B. May be exchanged for a prize, award, cash or cash equivalents or a chance to win a 
prize, award, cash or cash equivalents. 
As used in this subsection, “related product, service or activity” includes a coin, token or 
other representation of value that may be used for direct consideration.
5. Licensee. "Licensee" means a person that holds any one of the following licenses: 
A. A license issued under chapter 31; 
B. A license issued under chapter 33; 
C. A license issued under chapter 35; or 
D. A license issued under Title 17, chapter 62.
6. Online sweepstakes game. "Online sweepstakes game" means any game, contest or 
promotion that:
A. Is available on the Internet and accessible on a mobile telephone, computer terminal 
or similar access device; 
B. Uses a dual-currency system of payment; and 
C. Simulates casino-style gaming, including, but not limited to, slot machines, poker 
and other table games, lottery games, bingo or sports wagering. 
7. Unit. "Unit" means the Gambling Control Unit established as a bureau within the 
Department of Public Safety under Title 25, section 2902, subsection 12. 
§1402. Online sweepstakes games prohibited; fines; other penalties 
A person that operates or promotes an online sweepstakes game or supports the 
operation or promotion of an online sweepstakes game commits a civil violation. 
1. Fine. A person that violates this section is subject to a fine of not less than $10,000 
and not more than $100,000.  All fines adjudged pursuant to this section must be collected 
by the unit and distributed to the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund 
established in Title 5, section 20006-B. 
2. Revocation of license. If a licensee is convicted of unlawful gambling under Title 
17-A, section 954, subsection 1-B or is otherwise found to be in violation of this section 
through the administrative process applicable to the license held by the licensee, the unit 
or board, whichever is responsible for administering the license, shall revoke the licensee's 
license.
3. Ineligible for license. A person that is found to be in violation of this section is 
ineligible to receive a license described in section 1401, subsection 5.
Sec. 3.  17-A MRSA §954, sub-§1-B is enacted to read:
1-B.  A person is guilty of unlawful gambling if the person operates or promotes an 
online sweepstakes game or supports the operation or promotion of an online sweepstakes 
game. For the purposes of this subsection, "online sweepstakes game" has the same 
meaning as in Title 8, section 1401, subsection 6.
SUMMARY
This bill clarifies that operating or promoting an online sweepstakes game constitutes 
"unlawful gambling" within the meaning of the Maine Criminal Code and establishes 
additional civil penalties related to that unlawful conduct. 
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. "Dual-currency system of 
payment" refers to the practice of using more than one system of coins or tokens to facilitate 
game play and is further defined in the bill. 
The bill provides that a person that operates or promotes an online sweepstakes game 
is subject to a fine of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000. The bill requires 
that all fines collected be distributed to the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment 
Fund.
Under the bill, if a person is found to operate or promote an online sweepstakes game 
and that person holds a license with the Gambling Control Unit or Gambling Control Board 
within the Department of Public Safety to operate certain gambling activities, the licensing 
entity must revoke that license. A person that violates the online sweepstakes games 
prohibition is also ineligible to receive one of the licenses specified by the bill.