Maine Governor Janet Mills faces an important decision as the state's legislature reconvenes this week, marking the start of a new session on Wednesday. Among approximately 60 bills awaiting her action is LD 1164, which would allow the Wabanaki tribes in Maine to provide online casino offerings.
Once the session commences, Mills will have three days to either veto the bills, which the legislature could potentially override, or let them become law without her signature. Last year, Mills' office opposed the bill during legislative hearings. She previously vetoed a sports betting bill in 2020 but eventually signed legislation to legalize the industry in 2022.
Should Mills choose not to veto the iGaming legislation, Maine will join the ranks of eight other states with legal online casinos.
LD 1164 originally passed during a special session last year, surviving an attempt to table it in the Senate. It reached the Special Appropriations Table, where many bills are often halted. Ultimately, out of 300 bills presented, legislators sent 117, including LD 1164, to Mills for consideration.
If enacted, LD 1164 would provide the four Wabanaki tribes exclusive rights to operate online gambling, including games like blackjack, poker, and slots, with the state collecting an 18% tax on revenue. The tribes have partnered with DraftKings and Caesars for online sports betting, which was introduced in Maine in 2023.
As Mills deliberates, the Maine Gambling Control Board has unanimously urged her to veto the legislation. In a letter, Chairman Steven Silver expressed concerns that legalizing online casinos would unjustly favor the tribes while excluding the state’s two established casinos, leading to significant tax repercussions. Silver warned that this could result in the loss of hundreds of jobs for Mainers, with a potential impact of up to 200 jobs at the existing casinos. Additionally, he highlighted worries about increased gambling addiction rates in the state.
This week, the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) released a poll indicating that 64% of Maine residents oppose the legalization of online casinos. Several land-based casino operators, including Churchill Downs Inc and The Cordish Companies, formed NAAiG to combat the legalization of online gaming across the nation. Jason Gumer, a board member at NAAiG and executive vice president & general counsel at Monarch Casino & Resort, stated, "If Maine allows iGaming to become law, the state will stand out as an outlier in New England and across the country at a time when other governors and legislatures are hearing from their constituents and choosing not to move forward with this highly addictive form of gambling." He added that voters would likely reject iGaming once they recognize its impact, especially as it would mean a 24/7 casino accessible via smartphones.
Lake Research Partners conducted a survey from December 13-16, polling 500 Maine residents who are likely voters in the 2026 election. The results indicated that 51% of these voters would be less inclined to support any lawmaker backing the legalization of online casinos.
