Governor of Maine Janet Mills said she will sign the proposed law LD 1164, which was approved by both the House and the Senate last year. She said she is confident that the Gambling Control Unit in Maine will develop responsible rules and standards to hold providers accountable while ensuring that the tribes benefit from operations.
The law will go into effect on April 15 after the legislature adjourns. Maine, one of the smallest U.S. states, will become the eighth state to legalize online gambling and the third state in New England to do so.
Bill grants exclusivity to tribes
The legislation in Maine grants online gambling exclusivity to the four federally recognized Wabanaki nations in the state. Among the US-regulated iGaming markets, Connecticut is another state that also gives tribes exclusivity over online gambling. In Florida, the Seminole tribe has a monopoly over sports betting.
The two land-based casinos in the state aren’t included in the new legislation. The Maine Gambling Control Board believes that expansion should include them and urged Mills to veto the bill. It believes that excluding them would be harmful to consumers and Maine workers.
Conditions of the bill
Under the bill, the tribes must pay $50,000 for a license and pay a tax rate of 18%. They must each partner with one commercial platform provider to deliver online casino games. Bill sponsors estimate the state will collect $1.8 million in the first year.
Tribal and state gambling authorities will regulate online casinos as they do with the online sports betting model. Caesars and DraftKings already have existing online sports partnerships with the tribes. Three tribes currently partner with Caesars and one with DraftKings. This means the two operators will undoubtedly be the ones offering iGaming. It isn’t clear yet whether other online operators could gain access in the future.
Despite the iGaming legalization status, the launch of iGaming in Maine isn’t likely to happen until late 2026 or 2027. The Maine Gambling Control Unit must draft the rules that govern licensing, platform standards, etc. After that, the tribes will be able to select commercial iGaming partners and apply for licenses. This whole process could go on for months.
Opposition to the bill
In the legislative process, some large commercial operators opposed the bill, feeling that it wouldn’t create a healthy, regulated market as seen in other states. They also feel that limiting the market to a small number of operators could underserve consumers. Allowing tribes to partner with multiple operators could create a more robust market.
The National Association Against iGaming opposes the bill and reportedly plans to launch a People’s Vote campaign to prevent it from becoming law. A petition must be submitted within the first 90 days of the legislature readjourning. If the subsequent referendum gets most of the voter support, this can block an approved bill.
The organization is upset by the governor’s change of heart and believes it is motivated by political calculation rather than being in the interest of the public. Its opposition is largely due to worries about addiction and social costs. The group earlier commissioned a poll that suggested a majority of voters in the state didn’t want the legalization of online casinos.
Will there be further legalization of online gambling in 2026?
The governor’s decision may be modest, but it is a surprise, as the consensus was that it wouldn’t change this year. It will be interesting to see if Maine is a one-off or whether other states could follow.
Lawmakers in different states introduced or hinted at online casino legalization last year, but there were no real advances made. Bills could gain more consideration in 2026 in states looking for revenue to help solve their budget shortfalls. Gamblers who belong to a gaming hub can keep up with gambling news and what’s happening regarding iGaming legislation in different states.
