Best Sweepstakes Social Casinos in Maine
Although Mainers can visit one of two commercial casinos in the state, none of them provide them with the comfort of playing games online. Therefore, players opt for the best possible alternative for casino gaming – sweepstakes online casinos.
These sites offer casino-style games, like slots, RNG table games, and even live dealer games. Some also include exclusive games and those developed in-house. However, all of these sites operate similarly – they use the no-purchase-necessary model.
Best Maine sweepstakes casinos allow you to register for free and play games for fun. When you open an account, you’ll receive virtual Gold Coins you can use for free play. Besides GCs, you can also win Sweepstakes Coins through promotions. Moreover, you can purchase Gold Coins packages and get free Sweepstakes Coins if you want to.
Remember that buying GC packs is not required – you can enjoy free play with no strings attached. But, if you wish to boost your balance, you can purchase them, often at discounted rates, and get free SC you can use to play games, win, and redeem cash prizes.
Also, it’s worth adding that top sweepstakes casinos in Maine don’t give standard deposit bonuses. This means you don’t have to deposit to claim a bonus like you would at a standard real-money casino.
Instead, you will receive free Gold Coins when you sign up to enjoy casino-like games in a fun play mode and get them through promotions. Also, these sites allow you to purchase GC packs with free Sweepstakes Coins at discounted rates. Furthermore, they organize social media competitions awarding virtual currency and even have loyalty schemes for their existing members.
The best sweepstakes casinos in Maine are Mega Bonanza, Crown Coins, Spree and WOW Vegas
Top Maine sweepstakes:
- Megabonanza Casino (5 Free SC + 250,000 WOW Coins)
- Crown Coins Casino (2 SC + 100,000 Crown Coins)
- Spree Casino (2 SC + 100,000 Crown Coins)
- Wow Vegas (5 Free SC + 250,000 WOW Coins)
FAQ
Are sweepstakes social casinos legal in Maine?
Sure. Sweepstakes casinos are legit social gaming platforms in Maine as long as they allow players to register and play games for free. Also, to be able to play on these sites in Maine, you must be at least 18 years old.
Can I win real money playing at Maine social sweepstakes casinos?
No. Payouts in cash are not available at Maine social casinos. However, if you play with Sweepstakes Coins and collect enough to qualify for redemption, you can exchange them for cash prizes or gift cards.
Can I claim bonuses at Maine sweepstakes casinos?
No, you can’t. Sweepstakes casinos in Maine don’t have deposit bonuses like traditional online casinos. Instead of paying to get a bonus, you claim the prizes for free when you register, through social media campaigns, competitions, and special promotions, or you’ll get rewarded just for regularly playing at the social casino. Also, some sites have refer-a-friend campaigns, allowing you to win more GC or SCs.
Maine Sweepstakes Social Casinos: Regulations and History
Maine is one of several US states that fully legalized sports betting in 2022. The sports betting market in Maine includes retail sportsbooks, sports betting sites and mobile betting apps. The first online sportsbooks started working in November 2023. Caesars Sportbook partnered with three of four tribal casino operators in the state to offer its sports betting services, while DraftKings works with the fourth one.
However, online casino gaming is still out of reach for Mainers. The state has yet to show an intention to legalize iGaming, leaving players from the Pine Tree State to turn to the next best thing: sweepstakes casinos.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the history of gambling and sweepstakes casinos in Maine, cover the laws that make these sites legal in Maine, and the best social casinos you can join to play casino-style games.
Sweepstakes Laws in Maine
Maine doesn’t have any specific law that addresses sweepstakes casinos, saying that they are either allowed or banned. Sweepstakes casinos are actually regulated on the federal level and operate under sweepstakes laws rather than state-level online gambling legislation. In other words, these platforms are not regulated by the state gambling commissions like their real-money counterparts are.
Therefore, sweepstakes casinos are not under the supervision of the Maine Gambling Control Unit, which oversees commercial casinos in this state. However, there are some local guidelines these operators must follow if they want to offer their services legally. For example, players must be at least 18 years old to be able to register at sweepstakes casinos in Maine.
Another critical thing social casinos with sweepstakes elements must comply with is the no-purchase-necessary policy. This model ensures that players can register and play casino-like games for free, and they don’t need to buy anything on these sites to be able to win. Also, sweepstakes casinos are not considered gambling because players don’t risk money, and the game outcomes are based on chance.
Furthermore, operators must clearly state in their Terms and Conditions the odds of winnings, details about the prizes and how to redeem them. However, the most important rule these sites must follow is to offer an alternate method of entry or AMOE, also known as a free method of entry. It means that you can register and play casino-style games without spending a dime.
Sweepstakes Casino Currencies
This is where virtual currencies used at sweepstakes sites enter the scene. The so-called dual-currency model, which includes coins with no monetary value, makes these sites legal even in the states where online gambling is explicitly prohibited.
The two main currencies on these platforms are:
• Gold Coins (GC)
• Sweepstakes Coins (SC)
Gold Coins are used solely for entertainment, meaning you use them to play games for free, and the winnings you obtain have no monetary value. You receive GCs as gifts when you sign up and log into your account daily or through different promotions. However, sweepstakes casinos also allow you to buy GC packs if you want to.
On the other hand, you cannot purchase Sweepstakes Coins because you can redeem them for cash prizes and gift vouchers once you accumulate enough. Instead, you can obtain SC through promotions, win them in competitions, or receive them as part of the GC packages you choose to buy.
History of Sweepstakes in Maine
Gambling in Maine can be traced back to 1829 when Eben Carleton placed the first wager on a horse race. During the Roaring ’20s, Poland Spring House and Bar Harbor Casino became very popular, but they soon caught the attention of Maine law enforcement. In July 1950, the first horse race was organized at Scarborough Downs Harness Racetrack, which is still the state’s largest race track.
Penobscot High Stakes Bingo, the first gambling hall owned by an Indian tribe, was opened in 1973. This hall was also one of the first Indian gambling establishments in the country.
In 2003, 53% of Maine voters approved the introduction of slot machines at commercial horse racing tracks. This decision paved the way for Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway in Bangor, which was opened a year later. Oxford Casino in Oxford is the second land-based casino, established in 2012.
Other forms of legal gambling in Maine are sports betting (approved in 2022), horse race betting, lottery, and Daily Fantasy Sports (legalized in 2017). Unfortunately, online casinos are still not regulated, even though there have been several attempts to do so. The latest one was from April 2024, when lawmakers in Maine rejected the online casino bill.
