Online Casinos Coming to Maine After Governor Approves Tribal Bill

^{Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who approved legislation to legalize online casino gaming in the state. (Photo: Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press)}

Maine Governor Janet Mills announced Thursday that she would allow a bill authorizing online casinos to become law, a move that puts iGaming in the hands of tribal groups in the state. 

Governor Mills had initially opposed the bill last year, and delayed a decision on the legislation for months before making the announcement. 

Wabanaki Nations Get Exclusive Rights to iGaming 

The bill, known as LD 1164 – An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations – specifically gives tribal governments in Maine the ability to operate online gambling sites in order to support economic development in their communities. 

According to Mills, the decision came after discussions with tribal leaders over how the bill would impact their nation. 

“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,” Governor Mills said in a statement. “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.” 

The decision comes four years after Governor Mills signed a bill that gave Maine’s tribes the exclusive right to operate online sports betting sites in the state. 

Under the terms of this bill, each of Maine's four federally recognized gaming tribes will be able to partner with one third-party operator in order to create an online casino site. Caesars and DraftKings already have partnerships in place with two of the tribes. 

Land-Based Casinos Opposed Tribal Online Gambling Monopoly 

The bill faced repeated opposition from Maine's two land-based casinos. As recently as last month, the Maine Gambling Control Board voted unanimously in favor of sending the note to call on Mills to veto the legislation.

“Although the board has varying personal opinions about the general merits of legalizing Internet Gaming, we are unified in our belief that any qualified operator should have the ability to obtain an iGaming license including the Wabanaki Nations,” the Dec. 17 letter read. “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.” 

But leaders of Maine’s tribes praised the decision, saying that online gambling will help bring prosperity to their communities.  

“Governor Mills’ support for historic advances in tribal economic development, particularly her decision to allow LD 1164 to become law, marks an economic turning point for the Passamaquoddy people and for all Wabanaki Nations,” said William Nicholas Sr., Chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township. “Our economies are undoubtedly stronger due to positive state policy changes under Governor Mills.” 

The decision by Gov. Mills makes Maine the eighth state in the United States to authorize online casinos, following Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia. Other states, including New York and Virginia, are also actively considering iGaming expansion.