Sweeps Casinos Retreat: Maine Goes for Legal iGaming, Indiana Banking on the Bears?
When mid-July rolls around, Indiana and Maine will both be without sweepstakes casinos. The changes amplify a growing trend of states doing away with one of the country’s fastest-growing platforms for gambling, and now it’s time to analyze why most of this is happening.
But before we get there, it’s interesting to note that both Indiana and Maine have made these decisions for their own reasons.
On the surface, Maine has much more reason to do so, especially with a much bigger prize waiting about a month away. For Indiana, though, it could potentially mark the beginning of that same reward at the finish line.
Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears rose in the ranks of the NFL last season, earning the NFC’s second-best record before falling just short of the NFC Championship Game. The team used strong offensive line play en route to great success last season, and the hope for Indiana is that the Monsters of the Midway could provide a big push up front to get iGaming legalized in the Hoosier State.
Sweeps Casino Operators Are Jumping Ship Early
Sweeps casinos have enjoyed some time here in the gambling spotlight, but that glamour is starting to diminish. In less than a month, Indiana and Maine will become the 10th and 11th states to put an outright ban on sweepstakes casinos.
The sweepstakes casino platforms have drawn plenty of criticism from state lawmakers, who have a laundry list of concerns. At the forefront of those worries is the fact that states aren’t getting anything in return from sweepstakes casinos; they're just getting the heartache of losing customers.
Even more so, there’s no wide-ranging regulatory body, there are issues with consumer protections, and it’s generally seen as a loophole in existing gambling laws.
History of Sweepstakes Casinos Falling to State Bans
Before any of the current bans took place, there were already a few states that had strict gambling laws, including Nevada, Washington, and Idaho.
However, Montana was the first state to officially enact a ban on sweepstakes casinos, as State Bill 555 took effect on October 1, 2025. A month later, Connecticut passed and signed Senate Bill 1235 (SB 1235), which took effect on the first day of October 2025.
Following Montana and Connecticut, and the original four, we saw New York (June 2025), New Jersey (August 2025), and California (October 2025) all make the move to ban sweepstakes casinos.
Indiana: Hard Enforcement without iGaming Legalization
Indiana has been in the casino business since the 90s, when it legalized riverboats as the primary gambling method. Currently, most of the casinos are on dry land, and the state has even legalized sports betting and horse racing.
However, the big miss so far is the lack of iGaming. It doesn’t come without trying, though, as House Bill 1432 (HB 1432) created a bit of momentum before falling in the initial stages.
Indiana: The First Sweepstakes Casino Ban of 2026
Believe it or not, but Indiana was the first state to ban sweepstakes in 2026.
Gov. Mike Braun signed House Bill 1052 (HB 1052) to lead the way on banning sweepstakes casinos. The law, which extinguishes any internet-based sweepstakes casinos simulating casino, lottery, or sports betting methods using the “multi-currency systems”, goes into effect on the first day of July.
No Plans for Legal iGaming
Unfortunately, no legal iGaming options are coming to the Hoosier State anytime soon, even as sweepstakes casinos pack their bags.
In 2026, Indiana split its iGaming and iLottery bills into two separate measures to improve their chances of passage. House Bill 1078 (HB 1078), which focused on the iLottery aspect, advanced to the committee but didn’t generate enough support beyond that; the iGaming bill fell flat early and didn’t move the needle on any comeback attempts.
Indiana is expected to take another run, but it doesn’t come with many high hopes, at least in the short term. The 2026 legislative session is already over in Indiana, and retail-based casinos still have a lot of pull in the state.
Then again, a potential move for a historic NFL franchise to Indiana could be just the push it needs to get this one over the finish line.
Could the Bears' Move to Indiana Affect the State’s Legalization?
On June 5, the Chicago Bears’ board voted to advance plans for a new stadium in Hammond, IN. The team is looking to make the move and avoid Illinois’ massive tax rates and get some space for their fans in the process. Soldier Field remains one of (if not) the most jam-packed, crowded areas for an NFL franchise.
It’s no secret that NFL franchises make life-changing money, but it also costs generational money to operate. Bringing iGaming into the fold for Indiana could be another way to generate revenue, along with all the bells and whistles expected to be attached to the Bears’ stadium complex.
Hammond Developments
A lot of Bears fans are understandably upset with the team’s decision to leave Chicago, but the trip would take under an hour from Soldier Field and would add much-needed room for tailgating and other events.
The exact plot of land in Hammond, IN, has yet to be identified. Still, there are exciting plans to include state-of-the-art amenities for entertainment, shopping, dining, and potentially a land-based casino in the future.
Leading the list of potential sites is Wolf Lake, with proximity to major highways and breathtaking lakefront views. The idea is that this would become a major attraction with additional draws beyond football.
Potential Implications of Gambling Expansion
The upcoming ban of sweepstakes casinos in July will leave Indiana residents without any form of iGaming for the foreseeable future. It's an opportune time for the state to revisit iGaming talks, given the existing invested user base ready to go.
While there are no formal rankings of handles from sweeps casinos, Indiana ranked in the middle tier in terms of the number of active customers. It’s worth noting that many sweepstakes casino operators were unhappy about missing out on Indiana, given that it's a state without legalized iGaming and a population of just under 7 million.
But there could be a surge of tourism heading Indiana’s way, giving the road to legalization a glimmer of hope. If more tourism is coming to the area, that’s an entirely new base of customers there for the taking, especially on Sundays during the fall. It would also help Indiana reclaim some of the money that is falling out of its hands as neighboring states legalize iGaming.
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Maine: Creating Space for Legal iGaming in July 2026
In early April, Governor Janet Mills signed Legislative Document 2007 (LD 2007), making Maine the second state to ban sweepstakes casinos this year. The law goes into effect on July 14, but we have already seen some of the top operators close up shop in the Pine Tree State.
Going the Legal Route
With Maine going the legal route for iGaming, the decision to axe sweepstakes casino operators was a no-brainer. Any additional unregulated platform would eat into their profits, so that they would keep the money in-house.
Maine’s iGaming will be regulated by local tribal groups, so the transition from an unauthorized platform to a fully regulated one will be a huge relief for customers.
Players/Industry in Maine
The case for Maine is about as simple as it gets, with the state making iGaming legal in July. Much like the Bears’ hopeful move to Indiana, Maine is a thriving tourist location that will undoubtedly soak up some of that trickle-down money.
It’s a big move for Maine, which has been losing business to neighboring states with legal iGaming. The New England and Northeast regions have emerged as major players in this space, and the addition of Maine establishes a true territorial stronghold going forward.
Outlook for Indiana, Maine & iGaming Landscape
Indiana and Maine had their different reasons, but sweepstakes casinos will not be a part of their futures. With Maine poised to become the eighth U.S. state with legal iGaming, and Indiana still trying to decide where it stands, these are both stories to keep an eye on.
Of course, the more alluring scenario of what could be in Indiana is amplified by the anticipated arrival of the Bears. Anytime an NFL franchise is involved in something other than football, it’s enticing from a business perspective.
I’m a huge fan of watching something built from the ground up, and it will be nice to see the city of Hammond get a total makeover in real time. Hopefully, the Bears’ presence does great things for the area, giving a great American state an additional way to spice things up.
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