Online Casino Gambling Coming to Maine, Tribes Gain Exclusive iGaming Rights
Posted on: January 9, 2026, 08:00h.
Last updated on: January 9, 2026, 09:04h.
- Maine is the eighth state to legalize iGaming
- Maine’s federally recognized tribes will possess the exclusive rights to online casinos
Maine is the eighth state to legalize online casino gambling after Gov. Janet Mills (D) announced she would allow an iGaming bill passed by the State Legislature last session to become law.
Legislative Document 1164 provides the exclusive rights to iGaming to Maine’s four federally recognized tribes. The Wabanaki Nations — the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot — will each be allowed to partner with one online casino platform, or skin.
LD1164 requires that the online casinos share 16% of their gross gaming revenue with the state. Three percent of the tax revenue will be allocated for problem gambling support programs, 3% will assist Maine’s emergency response fund, and another 3% will go to the state’s Opioid Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Fund. The Maine Veterans’ Homes Stabilization Fund gets 3%, the Emergency Housing Relief Fund is earmarked 2%, and the remaining 2% goes to the state gaming regulator for administrative costs.
The Wabanaki Nations already have the exclusive rights to online sports betting in Maine. To avoid oversaturation, three of the tribes aligned with Caesars Sportsbook and split the revenue. The Passamaquoddy is partnered with DraftKings.
Maine joins Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia in authorizing iGaming. Connecticut also reserves iGaming for its federally recognized tribes.
Mills Changes Heart
It was expected that Mills would veto the iGaming bill. During her governorship, Mills has repeatedly expressed opposition to more gambling. She ultimately allowed the tribes to gain iGaming privileges after meeting 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,” said 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.”
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.”
Casino Opposition
Maine’s two casinos, Oxford Casino Hotel & Sportsbook and Hollywood Casino Bangor, opposed the iGaming bill. Churchill Downs, which owns and operates Oxford, is a member of the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG).
For the past 15 years, Maine’s two licensed casinos have generated more than half a billion dollars in tax revenue for the state. That funding has supported education, public safety, community programs, local aid, and tribal allocations. This record of shared success is not theoretical. It is measurable, transparent, and relied upon by communities across Maine. It is important to be clear. Tribal nations already benefit from the existing casino tax structure. Opposition to this bill is not about excluding tribes or protecting narrow interests. It is about preserving a model that has worked for Maine workers, Maine communities, and tribal governments alike. Dismissing these concerns as self-interested complaints ignores both the facts and the substantial public stake involved.”
The NAAiG claims Maine residents strongly oppose iGaming, with only 16% embracing online gambling.
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