NEWS | Governor signs Malon’s gambling addiction bill

[ Contributed Story ]

Gov. Janet Mills gave State Rep. Marc Malon (D-Biddeford) one more thing to celebrate this Easter holiday weekend.

On Friday, the governor signed a law a bill that Malon introduced earlier this year to help curb online gambling addiction.

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 Mills this past January

**STATE REP. MARC MALON** | D-Biddeford (*Contributed photo*)

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“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 Caesar’s 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 current 132nd Legislature.

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