New prohibitions targeting sweepstakes casinos are now in effect across Indiana and Maine, resulting in an industry-wide departure of operators from both states.
Indiana's sweepstakes casino prohibition officially took effect on July 1, 2026. Maine's ban followed later in the month, officially taking effect on July 29, 2026. Together, the two state measures have closed off both jurisdictions to standard sweepstakes gaming models.
Operators Began Exiting Ahead of Deadlines
Rather than operating up until the official statutory deadlines, multiple sweepstakes brands took proactive steps to cut off access well in advance. On June 2, operators Mega Bonanza and Jackpota moved to restrict player access across both jurisdictions.
Specifically, both Mega Bonanza and Jackpota disabled Gold Coin and Sweeps Coin play for users in Indiana and Maine on June 2. By cutting off both virtual currencies simultaneously, the platforms completely ceased gameplay functionality for account holders in both states weeks before the official regulatory dates arrived.
Most Brands Exited by July
The early actions taken by Mega Bonanza and Jackpota preceded a wider retreat across the sweepstakes industry. Following those initial June 2 closures, the majority of sweepstakes operators had completed their exit from both Indiana and Maine by July.
With Indiana's ban entering into force on July 1, platforms moved swiftly to ensure their systems were no longer taking entries from within state borders. By the time Maine's prohibition took effect on July 29, most operators had already ceased operations in that state as well, concluding the withdrawal process across both markets.
For players located in Indiana and Maine, these prohibitions mean sweepstakes casino platforms are no longer accessible for either Gold Coin or Sweeps Coin play.