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While Maine launched legal sports betting in 2023, the state is now poised to tighten restrictions on the industry.
Last week, the Legislature passed LD 2080, a bill that would prohibit bettors from using credit cards to fund sports betting wagers. The legislation now moves to Gov. Janet Mills’ desk for her signature.
Bill includes all online casino gaming
Originally filed in January to address sports betting specifically, LD 2080 was expanded via amendment. The bill, now titled An Act to Protect Consumers by Prohibiting the Use of Credit Cards in Sports Wagering and Internet Gaming, encompasses all online casino-style gaming.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford), cited the economic benefits of legal gambling while emphasizing the need for protections against addiction and debt.
“Legal and regulated gaming creates jobs and provides significant revenue to our state,” Malon said in a newsroom post on Maine.gov.
“But as the popularity of sports wagering grows and as iGaming comes online, the Legislature must prioritize measures that balance economic benefits with modest guardrails. This bill strikes that balance.”
If signed by Mills, Maine would join fellow New England states New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts in banning credit card gambling. Iowa, Tennessee, and Illinois have enacted similar legislation to ban or limit the practice.
Legislation follows sportsbook industry shifts
The legislative action aligns Maine’s legal framework with steps already taken by some of the nation’s largest sportsbooks.
Following the threat of a $450,000 fine in Massachusetts, DraftKings stopped accepting credit cards as a deposit source last year. FanDuel implemented a similar policy shortly after, signaling a broader industry shift away from credit card transactions on wagering platforms.
