Maine Legislature Votes to Ban Credit Cards for Sports Betting and iGaming

(AsiaGameHub) –   Maine legislators have approved a bill that would prohibit credit card use for sports wagering and online gaming. LD 2080 now awaits review by Governor Janet Mills after the Legislature gave its approval on March 25 following Senate passage. 

Should the governor sign the measure into law, it would bar operators and management services licensees from taking bets placed with credit cards and mandate that regulators configure systems to block such transactions on mobile applications, digital platforms, and at physical betting sites. 

This legislative action occurs as Maine gets ready to launch its newly approved online gaming market and while legislators evaluate additional gambling-related proposals, such as a separate measure to prohibit sweepstakes casinos that remains under consideration. 

Representative Marc Malon (D) filed the bill in January under the title “An Act to Protect Consumers by Prohibiting the Use of Credit Cards in Sports Wagering” to safeguard Maine residents from gambling addiction, though the name was subsequently modified to encompass internet gaming. 

At that time, Malon described the legislation as a means to balance the economic advantages of legalized gambling with consumer safeguards, stating:

“Legal and regulated gaming generates employment and delivers substantial revenue for our state. However, as sports wagering gains popularity and online gaming launches, the Legislature must focus on measures that balance these economic benefits with reasonable protections to prevent Mainers from developing addictions and accumulating debt. This legislation achieves that equilibrium.” 

Measure Revised and Broadened via Committee Amendment

The legislation experienced several modifications before taking its current form as “An Act to Protect Consumers by Prohibiting the Use of Credit Cards in Sports Wagering and Internet Gaming.” 

Initially submitted in January, LD 2080 originally covered only sports wagering, but an amendment adopted earlier this month extended its reach to include internet gaming and revised its title accordingly. 

Under the revised version, operators offering both sports wagering and internet gaming would be prohibited from accepting bets from customers attempting to use credit cards for payment. 

The measure would additionally compel regulators to establish rules blocking credit card usage across all betting channels, including mobile platforms and in-person kiosks, thereby strengthening the prohibition through both operational and technical protections.

In addition to approving this bill, the Legislature is examining legislation aimed at sweepstakes casinos. Earlier this month, Maine’s Senate approved LD 2007, which would prohibit dual-currency online platforms. The concurrent consideration of these measures indicates that lawmakers are increasingly focused on consumer protections as legal gambling expands in the state. 

Sector Shifting Away From Credit-Based Betting

If LD 2080 is enacted, Maine will become part of an expanding group of states that have prohibited credit card gambling in various forms, including Iowa, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Vermont, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

Major operators have also begun eliminating credit card acceptance. In August 2025, DraftKings ceased accepting credit cards for sportsbook and online casino deposits following a $450,000 penalty in Massachusetts for inadequate transaction blocking.

FanDuel followed on March 2, discontinuing credit card deposits nationwide for its sportsbook, casino, and racing offerings. These recent developments indicate the industry may be voluntarily adopting standards that prioritize debit-based and direct bank transfer methods. 

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