Lawmakers in Maine have passed legislation to ban the use of credit cards for sports betting and internet gaming, with LD 2080 now heading to Gov. Janet Mills for consideration. The Legislature approved the bill on March 25, after the Senate voted in favor of the measure.
If the governor signs it into law, the legislation would prohibit operators and management services licensees from accepting wagers if a person uses a credit card and require regulators to ensure systems are configured to prevent their use across mobile apps, digital platforms, and at retail betting locations.
The legislative push comes as Maine prepares to launch its recently approved iGaming market and as lawmakers continue to weigh other gambling-related measures, including a separate bill that would ban sweepstakes casinos, which is still moving through the Legislature.
Rep. Marc Malon (D) introduced “An Act to Protect Consumers by Prohibiting the Use of Credit Cards in Sports Wagering” as a bill to protect Maine consumers from gambling addiction in January. However, the name was later amended to include internet gaming.
At the time, Malon presented the bill as a way to balance the economic benefits of legal gambling with consumer protections, saying:
“Legal and regulated gaming creates jobs and provides significant revenue to our state. But as the popularity of sports wagering grows and as iGaming comes online, the Legislature must prioritize measures that balance sports betting’s economic benefits with modest guardrails to protect Mainers from addiction and falling into debt. This bill strikes that balance.”
Bill Replaced & Expanded Through Committee Amendment
The bill underwent a few changes before emerging in its current form as “An Act to Protect Consumers by Prohibiting the Use of Credit Cards in Sports Wagering and Internet Gaming.”
When it was first filed in January, LD 2080 only applied to sports betting. However, an amendment passed earlier this month expanded the bill’s scope to include internet gaming and also updated its name to reflect the change.
Under the amended version, both operators who conduct sports wagering and internet gaming would be banned from accepting wagers from bettors who attempt to pay by credit card.
The measure would also require regulators to adopt rules that prevent credit cards from being used across any betting channels, including mobile platforms and on-site kiosks. In this way, it reinforces the ban by implementing both operational and technical safeguards.
Along with passing this bill, the Legislature is looking at legislation targeting sweepstakes casinos. Earlier this month, Maine’s Senate passed LD 2007, which would ban the dual-currency online platforms. The timing of the two bills shows that lawmakers are taking a closer look at consumer protections as legal gambling options continue to grow in the state.
Industry Moving Away From Credit-Based Wagering
If LD 2080 becomes law, Maine will join a growing number of states that have banned credit card gambling in some form, including Iowa, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Vermont, Illinois, and Massachusetts.
Major operators have also started phasing out credit cards. In August of 2025, DraftKings stopped accepting credit cards for sportsbook and online casino deposits after facing a $450,000 fine in Massachusetts for failing to block the transactions.
FanDuel followed suit on March 2, ending credit card deposits nationwide across its sportsbook, casino, and racing products. These recent changes suggest the industry may be voluntarily moving toward a standard that favors debit-based and direct bank transfers.
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