Maine cleared the field for someone who hasn’t arrived yet. LD 2007 will eliminate sweepstakes casinos on July 14, just months before the Wabanaki Nations open their licensed online casinos in the state. Until then, though, you can still sign up with most major brands.
Our page will walk you through our current favorite casinos, explain what to do with your account when the deadline arrives, and detail which operators have already begun winding down.
Sweepcasinos Choice
200,000 GC + 100 FC
Welcome bonus
120% Welcome Purchase Offer + 68 Free SC
Welcome bonus
120% Welcome Purchase Offer + 68 Free SC
Welcome bonus
50,000 GC + 1 SC
Welcome bonus
50,000 GC + 1 SC
Welcome bonus
500,000 GC + 10 SC
Welcome bonus
10,000 GC · 2 SC
Welcome bonus
5,000 GC + 2.5 SC
Welcome bonus
7,500 GC + 2.5 SC
Welcome bonus
10,000 GC + 2 SC
Every site on this list passed our cashout, free entry, and deposit-pressure checks. The rest didn’t make it.
How We Rate
For now, yes, but the clock is ticking. You have exactly until July 14, 2026, to sign up and play sweepstakes casinos as a resident of Maine. After that, the state’s new ban (LD 2007) takes effect, classifying dual-currency platforms as unlawful gambling. Governor Janet Mills signed it on April 6, 2026, three months after Maine legalized tribal iGaming (LD 1164).
The state shut down sweepstakes before its own licensed online casino market even launched. Civil penalties run $10,000 to $100,000 per violation.
Below, we walk through the law and what’s left for you before and after July 14.
| Are sweepstakes casinos illegal in Maine? | Yes, after July 14, 2026. Maine’s sweepstakes ban (LD 2007) takes effect on that date. |
| What does the law say? | LD 2007 prohibits dual-currency online sweepstakes platforms. It defines “online sweepstakes game” as any platform that simulates casino-style gaming (slots, poker, table games, lottery, bingo, or sports wagering) using a dual-currency system. |
| What’s the penalty? | Civil fines of $10,000 to $100,000 per violation, plus mandatory license revocation for any licensed gaming entity. Penalty funds go to Maine’s Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund. |
| Who enforces it? | The Maine Gambling Control Unit (GCU), under the Department of Public Safety. |
| Why now? | Maine legalized tribal iGaming (LD 1164) in January 2026. The sweepstakes ban protects the upcoming licensed market, even before it launches. |
| When will tribal iGaming launch? | Expected late 2026 or early 2027. The Wabanaki Nations hold exclusive rights to operate Maine’s licensed online casino platforms. |
| What about free social casinos (Gold Coins only)? | Yes, social casinos will still be able to operate. The ban specifically targets the dual-currency model where Sweeps Coins are redeemable for prizes. |
| What can I legally play in Maine? | Two commercial casinos (Hollywood Casino Bangor, Oxford Casino), tribal bingo and high-stakes beano, online sports betting (since 2023), and the Maine State Lottery. Tribal iGaming is coming. |
| Can I sign up to a sweepstakes site in Maine right now? | Yes. Until July 14, 2026, most major brands still accept Maine players. |
| Will I get in trouble as a player if I play after July 14, 2026? | No. LD 2007 targets operators, suppliers, and promoters. It doesn’t penalize individual players. |
| What happens to my account after July 14, 2026? | Operators must exit Maine or restrict to Gold Coin-only mode by that date. Existing accounts will likely be closed or restricted. You should cash out any Sweeps Coin balance you have before July 14. |
| Will a VPN help after July 14? | No. Sites verify your location at every login and close accounts that try to mask it. With the ban active, operators have additional incentive to enforce geo-restrictions. |
| What if my account or balance disappears before I can cash out? | Limited recourse. Contact the brand you had your account with through their support page. If they don’t respond, file a complaint with the FTC. |
| Do I owe taxes on past winnings? | Yes, federal and state. Tax law treats sweepstakes winnings as taxable income. Report filed on Schedule 1; Maine taxes them at the state’s graduated rate (top 7.15%). |
Operators that already left Maine
Compare Maine’s stance on sweepstakes with that of its neighboring U.S. states.
To clear the field before its own market opens. Maine legalized tribal online casinos in January 2026, then banned sweepstakes that April, with the ban taking effect on July 14, 2026. The licensed platforms will not launch until late 2026 or early 2027. So, Maine kills the competition months before its replacement arrives. The timing is deliberate, letting the new market inherit demand instead of fighting set habits.
No, not for months. Sweepstakes shut off July 14, 2026, but tribal platforms are not expected before late 2026. That leaves a gap, with no legal online casino in Maine at all. Sports betting and the lottery stay open, yet neither runs casino style games.
No, and the late 2026 launch of tribal casinos only locks that in. LD 2007 exists to keep unlicensed rivals away from the Wabanaki platforms. Bringing sweepstakes back once those run would undo the whole setup. A reversal also means repealing a law Maine signed in April 2026, on purpose. So the licensed launch shuts the last door, it does not open one.
