THE Legislative Assembly of Maine approved, in committee, a bill that provides for the prohibition of casino sweepstakes — online platforms that use virtual currency systems to offer games with results similar to those of traditional casinos.
On Wednesday (18), the Joint Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs voted 8 votes to 2, with three absences, to advance the text of the Legislative Document 2007 (LD 2007) — entitled “An Act Regarding the Prohibition of Online Sweepstakes Games”. The measure, if approved by the full state House and Senate, would create a new chapter in Maine’s gaming laws to restrict this type of activity.
The project defines sweepstakes games as games or promotions on the internet that use a dual currency system and produce results similar to casino games of chance. Under the proposal, operating or promoting these games would be classified as illegal gambling, subjecting perpetrators to civil fines ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per violation.
The initiative coincides with a broader movement in the United States to regulate or ban sweepstakes platforms that operate without a license. Maine regulators have already expressed concerns that unlicensed operators are targeting their offerings to state residents, reinforcing the debate over consumer risks and the need for legal clarity.
“If you are in Maine and access DraftKings, you will immediately be told that the site is authorized by the Maine Gambling Control Unit. If this information is not there, the consumer will know that the site was not authorized by you, that there is no regulation, and therefore that access is at your own risk,” said Director of the Gambling Control Unit, Milton Champion.
Champion also highlighted the broader national movement in the United States against sweepstakes platforms, citing legislation in place in several states.
“We now have legislation in effect in Ohio, Michigan, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Iowa, Maryland and Florida,” he added.
The vote in the commission represents a step prior to analysis by the plenary of both chambers of the state Legislature. There is still no forecast of when the project will be voted on in plenary or whether it will undergo changes before a final vote.
Fonte: Gaming365 – Brasil
