Maine is ready to develop into the eighth U.S. state to authorize real-money on-line on line casino gaming after Gov. Janet Mills introduced Thursday that she’s going to enable LD 1164 handed final session to take impact with out her signature.
“I considered this bill carefully, and while I have concerns about the impacts of gambling on public health, I believe that this new form of gambling should be regulated,” Mills wrote in an announcement asserting her determination, “and I am confident that Maine’s Gambling Control Unit will develop responsible rules and standards to hold providers of this new form of gambling accountable while ensuring that Maine’s tribes benefit from its operations.”
The regulation grants Maine’s 4 federally acknowledged tribes unique rights to function on-line on line casino gaming, with every tribe permitted to companion with one third-party operator. Two of the tribes have already aligned with Caesars and DraftKings, giving these firms an early benefit if and when iGaming launches within the state. DraftKings was among the many restricted variety of operators that testified in assist of the laws.
There is not any official launch timeline. Implementation will rely on the event of regulatory guidelines and licensing approvals, a course of anticipated to take months. That can be quick, contemplating that throughout the pond, the method of creating a complete authorized framework for online UK casino and the Gambling Act 2005 being absolutely operational took roughly two years. That being stated, one is a state, the opposite a whole nation, so the size is sort of totally different.
Tribal-Only Framework Draws Industry and Regulatory Pushback
The invoice superior regardless of objections from the Maine Gambling Control Board, which oversees the Gambling Control Unit however wouldn’t regulate iGaming below the brand new regulation. In a letter despatched to the governor final month, the board warned that the tribal-only construction may harm Maine’s present on line casino business.
“Cutting out Oxford and Hollywood Casinos entirely from offering iGaming is ill-advised and creates a monopoly that is harmful to consumers and the Maine workers employed by Oxford and Hollywood Casinos,” the board wrote. “Furthermore, removing casino games from the regulatory authority of the Gambling Control Board violates Maine law and renders the Board effectively useless.”
Several main business operators additionally opposed the bill, together with FanDuel, Fanatics, and BetMGM. FanDuel’s Michael Ventre testified final 12 months that the proposal “would not create the healthy, regulated market that we have seen in many other states.”
Maine’s two commercial casinos — Oxford Casino Hotel & Sportsbook and Hollywood Casino Bangor — had been among the many most vocal opponents. Churchill Downs, which operates Oxford Casino, is a member of the National Association Against iGaming, an advocacy group that claims sturdy public opposition to on-line on line casino enlargement.
Mills Cites Tribal Sovereignty and Economic Impact
Mills’ determination marked a shift from her prior stance on playing enlargement. She has repeatedly expressed skepticism about including new types of playing throughout her time in workplace. That place softened after conferences with tribal leaders.
“This fall, I met with the five elected Chiefs of the Wabanaki Nations, who each spoke passionately about the importance of this bill in offering life-changing revenue for Tribal communities, as well as providing a form of economic sovereignty for their Nations,” Mills stated. “I considered this bill carefully, and while I have concerns about the impacts of gambling on public health, I believe that this new form of gambling should be regulated, and I am confident that Maine’s Gambling Control Unit will develop responsible rules and standards to hold providers of this new form of gambling accountable while ensuring that Maine’s tribes benefit from its operations.”
Mills added that it has “always been my strong desire to work with Tribal leaders to improve the lives and livelihoods of the Wabanaki Nations.”
Under the laws, on-line casinos will share a portion of their gross gaming income with the state, with funds earmarked for downside playing providers, emergency response applications, opioid use dysfunction therapy, veterans’ properties, housing reduction, and administrative prices.
National iGaming Debate Continues Beyond Maine
Maine’s transfer comes as a number of different states revisit on-line on line casino laws in 2026. Lawmakers in New York and Virginia have reintroduced proposals that failed to achieve traction in prior periods. If permitted, New York would create probably the most profitable iGaming market within the nation.
Virginia lawmakers are additionally renewing efforts after shelving the same push final 12 months. Their proposal would enable every of the state’s 5 licensed casinos to function up to three cell on line casino partnerships.
These efforts be part of ongoing discussions in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Illinois, the place iGaming has confronted repeated political and regulatory hurdles. While 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have legalized some type of sports activities betting, on-line on line casino gaming has confirmed far harder to go.
Seven states presently enable real-money iGaming, although solely a handful function aggressive markets. Despite restricted availability, on-line on line casino gaming generated $8.4 billion in gross gaming income in 2024, outpacing the earnings of authorized sportsbooks due to increased margins and tax charges.
That monetary efficiency has not eased political resistance. Critics from each events proceed to describe on-line casinos as “a slot machine in every pocket,” citing issues over habit, entry, and round the clock availability.
For now, Maine joins a small however rising group of states keen to take a look at tribal-led iGaming fashions, whilst comparable proposals elsewhere stay stalled by acquainted issues.
