Maine to Become the Eighth State to Legalize Online Casinos

Maine is set to become the eighth U.S. state and the third in New England to legalize online casinos after Governor Janet Mills announced she will allow LD 1164, “An Act to Create Economic Opportunities for the Wabanaki Nations Through Internet Gaming,” to become law.

Updated on 9 January 2026

Gov. Janet Mills/Credit: U.S. Department of War

The move would place Maine alongside New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Delaware, as well as Connecticut and Rhode Island, as states where online casino gambling is legally available.

Lawmakers passed the bill in June 2025, but Mills decided to take no action as the legislative session expired. LD 1164 would grant Maine’s four federally recognized tribes the exclusive right to offer online casino gaming through partnerships with third-party operators.

Governor Mills, reflecting on earlier discussions with tribal leadership, said in a press release:

“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.”

What LD 1164 Would Do

Sponsored by lawmakers including Rep. Ambureen Rana and Rep. Aaron Dana, LD 1164 authorizes Maine’s four Wabanaki Nations — Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Mi’kmaq Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians — to obtain the sole licenses for online casinos. Each tribe may contract with one commercial operator to deliver online slots, table games, and poker.

Under the measure:

  • Up to four platforms, one per tribe, under the bill’s structure.
  • Online casino revenue would be taxed at a rate of 18 percent. Bill sponsors estimate the state will collect $1.8 million in the first year, rising to over $3 million annually thereafter.
  • Regulation will shift under tribal and state gambling authorities aligned with the existing online sports betting model.
  • The model replicates Maine’s current sports betting framework, where three tribes partner with Caesars and one with DraftKings.

Supporters argue the bill creates new revenue for tribal communities and the state while formalizing a previously unregulated online gaming market.

Opposition from Regulators and Public Opinion

Despite support from tribal leaders and some lawmakers, LD 1164 has faced significant pushback from state regulators, commercial operators, and advocacy groups.

The Maine Gambling Control Board (MGCB), in a letter to the governor, urged a veto. It argued that the bill’s structure is “ill-advised”. That’s because it risks creating a monopoly by excluding the state’s commercial casinos — Hollywood Casino and Oxford Casino — from participating in online gaming.

MGCB Chair Steven J. Silver wrote that excluding brick-and-mortar casinos would be “harmful to consumers and Maine workers.”

Public sentiment appears to back these regulatory concerns. A poll commissioned by the National Association Against iGaming (NAAIG), an advocacy group opposed to the expansion of online gaming, suggests that Maine voters oppose iGaming.

It found that 64 percent of Maine voters oppose the legalization of online casino gambling. Out of those, 49 percent were strongly against the idea, and only 16 percent were in favor.

The anti-gambling group said opposition stems from worries about addiction, underage access, and social costs, urging the governor to veto the bill.

After the Governor said she would allow the bill to pass, NAAIG released a statement. It called her decision “troubling” by disregarding the public’s opinion, the gaming regulator, and going against the national trend.

Industry Pushback: BetMGM, Fanatics, and FanDuel Testify Against

In an unusual twist, some of the largest commercial operators opposed the bill during the legislative process.

In written testimony submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, FanDuel Group Inc. — speaking on behalf of itself, BetMGM, and Fanatics — expressed concern that the bill “will not create the healthy, regulated market that we have seen in many other states.”

FanDuel’s Senior Manager of State Government Relations argued that mirroring Maine’s sports betting model, which limits the market to a small number of partners, could under-serve consumers:

“…the state’s online sports betting framework…has limited the market to just two operators despite the ability to have up to four.”

For sports betting, three of the tribes have partnered with Caesars, and one with DraftKings, effectively limiting access for others. Likely, they fear that through LD 1164’s frame, a similar scenario will occur with iGaming.

The industry group suggested that allowing tribes to partner with multiple operators could foster a more competitive and robust market.

Which Operators Stand to Benefit

If implemented as drafted, LD 1164 would create opportunities for commercial operators through exclusive partnership agreements with tribal license holders. Likely interested parties include:

  • DraftKings – already partnered with the Passamaquoddy Tribe for online sports wagering.
  • Caesars Entertainment – partner to multiple tribes in Maine’s sports betting market.
  • BetMGM, FanDuel, and Fanatics – although they opposed the bill, the operators will likely attempt to initiate a conversation with the tribes to enter the market.
  • Technology suppliers, such as Scientific Games and International Game Technology (IGT), could pitch in as potential platform/content partners. IGT currently powers Rhode Island’s only sportsbook.

What Happens Next

Although Governor Mills will allow LD 1164 to become law, Maine will not immediately get online casinos.

The next phase shifts to regulation. The Maine Gambling Control Unit must draft rules governing licensing, platform standards, responsible gaming, and partnerships with tribal operators.

After that, tribes can select commercial iGaming partners and apply for licenses. That process is expected to take months, meaning a launch in late 2026 or 2027 is the most realistic timeline.