A bill introduced at the State House would prevent Mainers from using credit cards to place online bets on sports.
Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) presented LD 2080 last week to the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. The legislation is designed to protect Mainers from gambling-related debt and curb compulsive betting, according to the lawmaker.
The bill comes as online sports wagering gains popularity in the state. Currently, two companies operate online sports betting in Maine, namely DraftKings and Caesars Palace. Caesars already bans credit card use, while DraftKings allows users to fund bets with “reward points” and even offers its own branded credit card.
“Legal and regulated gaming creates jobs and provides significant revenue to our state,” said Malon. “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.”
The lawmaker cited research from GREO for the UK Gambling Commission that shows that enabling credit card payments for online gambling can lead to higher wagering amounts, increased rates of compulsive gambling, and greater financial consequences, as it allows individuals to accumulate debt more easily.
In a report by FOX23, Malon argued that while gambling at a casino requires physical presence, online gambling can be far more dangerous and addictive.
He said that casino gambling already has natural limits and guardrails, whereas placing bets through a mobile app—even when using a debit card linked to a bank account—still carries significant risk. “When you run out of money, you’re done. Whereas when you use a credit card, you run the risk of incurring a boatload of debt,” Malon said.
Seven states, including Maine’s neighbors New Hampshire and Massachusetts, have already enacted similar prohibitions.
The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a work session on the bill in the coming weeks. An amendment is expected to ensure that Maine’s newly implemented iGaming platforms are included under the proposed restrictions.
Malon, serving his second term in the Maine House, represents part of Biddeford and sits on the Housing and Economic Development and Veterans and Legal Affairs committees.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/01/26/117285-maine-lawmaker-proposes-ban-on-credit-card-use-for-online-sports-betting
