Maine has authorized its tribal governments to operate online gambling, which may not bode well for sweepstake casinos’ futures in the state.
On Thursday, Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced that she would allow Legislative Document 1164 — “An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations” — to become law.
Maine’s legislature passed LD116 in June. The state’s constitution provides for an adjournment scenario. If the governor doesn’t sign legislation within the initial 10-day window of enactment, the governor can either veto the bills or let them become law.
“I considered this bill carefully, and while I have concerns about the impacts of gambling on public health, I believe that this new form of gambling should be regulated,” Mills said in a statement. “I am confident that Maine’s Gambling Control Unit will develop responsible rules and standards to hold providers of this new form of gambling accountable while ensuring that Maine’s tribes benefit from its operations.
“It has always been my strong desire to work with tribal leaders to improve the lives and livelihoods of the Wabanaki Nations, and it is my hope that this new revenue will do just that.”
Mills’ decision received support from the Wabanaki Nations: the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik, the Mi’kmaq Nation, the Penobscot Nation, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
What does this mean for sweeps casinos in Maine?
LD1164 consolidates gaming power in the state of Maine to the Wabanaki Nations (and the regulatory body, the Maine Gambling Control Unit). The setup comes off similar to how Florida’s Seminole Tribe maintains control of gaming in Florida, which has already begun cracking down on sweeps casinos.
While there is theoretically room for a state to allow both independent sweepstakes casinos and tribal gaming, states have predominantly sided with indigenous nations. (See: California with Assembly Bill 831.) And with Mills throwing her support behind the Wabanaki Nations’ running online gambling, it’s unlikely that she would veto any Sweeps Coin gameplay ban that arrives to her desk.
Which … is there any potential ban coming?
LD2007 has its first hearing on Jan. 14
A bill that would ban sweeps casinos in Maine, Legislative Document 2007, is set for its first hearing with the Joint Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs on Jan. 14.
This bill is a carbon copy of other sweepstakes bans in other states, calling out “dual-currency” sweeps gaming, preventing citizens in the state from buying “ 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.”
LD2007 specifically addresses a token that is “provided for free through a promotion or bonus or with the purchase of a related product, service or activity; and … may be exchanged for a prize, award, cash or cash equivalents or a chance to win a prize, award, cash or cash equivalents.”
In other words: Sweeps Coins.
The bill would ban sweeps, subjecting anyone operating a sweeps casino in the state to a fine of “not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000.”
