📰MAINE | Governor signs Malon’s bill to protect Maine consumers from gambling addiction
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
By Brian Lee, Contributed Story
April 3, 2026, Today, Gov. Janet Mills signed into law a measure sponsored by Rep. Marc Malon, D-Biddeford, that will help safeguard Mainers from gambling addiction by prohibiting the use of credit cards in online wagers.
As amended, LD 2080 will prevent gambling operators or management services with licenses in the state from accepting credit cards to fund both sports wagering and Internet gaming (iGaming). The latter has been operational in the state since November 2023, but iGaming was only recently signed into law by Gov. Mills this past January.
“Since coming online, sports betting has become a pervasive part of American culture,” said Malon. “Although it has been economically successful, we want to make sure that we establish reasonable safeguards so that Mainers can participate without falling prey to addiction.”
Currently, there are two gambling companies that operate online sports wagering in Maine: DraftKings and Caesars Palace. DraftKings has already implemented a company rule that prohibits the use of credit cards for gambling, but Caesars Palace has its own branded credit card, encouraging users to use “reward points” for their wagers.
Research experts have found that the use of credit cards in online betting and sports gambling can directly lead to higher wagering amounts, increased gambling activity and significant financial consequences, as debt can be more easily accumulated with credit. Maine now joins its neighbors, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, as one of eight states in the country with this policy in place.
The law will go into effect 90 days after the adjournment of the 132nd Legislature.
Rep. Malon is serving his second term in Maine’s House of Representatives and represents a portion of Biddeford. He serves on the Housing and Economic Development Committee and the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee.
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