- Maine passed online casino regulation for online blackjack and other forms of iGaming on Thursday.
- The Maine Gambling Control Unit requested Governor Janet Mills to veto Bill LD 1164, but she decided to allow it to pass.
- Maine becomes the eighth state with legal online gambling and the first state with exclusively tribal framework.
AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine governor Janet Mills elected to sign LD 1164 into law, making Maine the eighth state in the US with legal online casinos. As soon as April 17, Maine residents could be enjoying legal online blackjack offered through partnerships with the state’s four tribes.
Governor Mills faced pushback from locals and even the Maine Gambling Control Unit, requesting her to veto the bill due to concerns over problem gambling, the existing land-based casino structure, and more issues. Instead, Mills disagreed with the requests to veto iGaming and made legal online casinos official based on her conversations with tribal chiefs in the fall.
"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," said Governor Mills. "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. It has always been my strong desire to work with Tribal leaders to improve the lives and livelihoods of the Wabanaki Nations, and it is my hope that this new revenue will do just that."
What Will Maine Online Gambling Bill Provide?
The passage of LD 1164 grants the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Mi’kmaq Nation exclusive authority to operate online casino gambling in Maine. These tribes are permitted to partner with one online casino, priced at $50,000 annually per platform.
Bill LD 1164 2 states that 16% of adjusted gross iGaming receipts will be contributed to the state. This allocation of funds will be distributed as listed below.
Residents could see legal online blackjack in Maine as soon as 90 days after the adjournment of this upcoming legislative session, which would be April 17.